After suffering snakebites in Afram Plains in Ghana’s Eastern Region, two teachers died as a result of their inability to acquire medical attention in that part of the country.
In an interview with TV3’s Komla Adom for the ‘Education Reforms’ program, Taihdu Mohammed, the Basic Education Coordinator for the Afram Plains North District, attributed the situation to the lack of electricity in most settlements in the area.
The teachers died, Taihdu Mohammed told Komla Adom, since there was no anti-Snake venom serum in the health facilities at Donkokrom, where they were taken for treatment.
He went on to say that the parents of the other teachers who had escaped snakebites had evacuated them from the area to their respective hometowns to ensure their safety.
“Because there is no light, there is no solar and other things most of the children come there and they are getting snakebite and when they send them to Donkorkrom hospital they don’t even have the medicine to treat them.
“Two teacher have died because of this snakebite on the islands , three of them were cured and later, their parents came that they will not allow their children to stray in Afram Plains so quickly they took them from this place”.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Education Service (GES) has acknowledged the difficulties faced by teachers in Afram Plains and around the country.
As a result, the GES stated that procedures had been put in place to address these concerns.
Mr Anthony Boateng, Deputy Director General of the GES, recognized that these are significant concerns and that solving them will require a multi-stakeholder approach.
“These are issues that must be tackled holistically and across agencies and across sectors. I can assure you something is being done. For example, as I speak to you, there is a committee that is working on identification of what we call deprived schools.
“So that some motivations can go to teachers who are accept postings to these areas. We expect the committee to finish its work and present its report in the coming weeks. We are also aware of efforts by government to provide housing for teachers. So it is our prayer and hope that all these initiatives will materialise,” he also told Komla Adom in the documentary.
A year ago TV3 covered this story but it looks like authorities have paid deaf ears to the problem.
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