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Integrate rural development into
national policies- Bishop
Dodi-Papase (V/R), July 8, Ghanadot/GNA - Most Reverend
Gabriel Ababio Mante, Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Jasikan
last weekend stated that nations that failed to integrate
rural development into the development and governance
processes were only courting national disaster and
socio-economic suicide.
He said rural settings, which are haven for the bulk of the
people continued to suffer underdevelopment, disease and
ignorance, which should be a worry for policy and
decision-makers.
Bishop Mante noted that urban and centralized concentration
of projects and programmes should be reversed as a matter of
priority.
He disclosed this at the inauguration of a-100,000 Ghana
cedi adult wards at the Saint Mary Theresa Catholic hospital
at Dodi-Papase in the Kadjebi district.
Bishop Mante said knowledgeable and enlightened human
resource capacity should be re-directed to the deprived
rural areas towards bridging the yawning development gap
between urban and rural areas.
He said Catholic Mission would continue to play leading
roles in championing rural development, especially in the
education and health sectors.
Rev Mante said a centralized approach to development agenda
would not only create a class or bourgeoisie society but
lead to mediocrity and squalor.
He added that the perception that, "Ghana stops" at Hohoe
Municipality has not changed much as the northern parts of
the Volta Region continue to suffer deprivation and
underdevelopment.
On development, he said plans were afoot for the
construction of an ultra modern theatre, procurement of
automatic generator, submersible water system and an X-ray
machine.
Bishop Mante said the hospital was expecting laboratory
equipment from foreign sources to help in diagnostic and
other healthcare delivery.
Dr. Christine Tetteh, Medical Superintendent said the
hospital was constructing a mortuary out of its internally
generated fund, which is at lintel level and called for
financial support to facilitate early completion.
She said, out-patient department attendance was 9,527 at
mid-year as against 13,765 it recorded in 2007.
Dr. Tetteh said there was no community outreach programme
between 2005 and 2007 as a result of lack of transport.
She said the hospital recorded seven Tuberculosis cases as
at mid-year with eight cases emerging in 2007.
GNA
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