[ 2017-10-04 ]

Gender, Children and Social Protection Minister, Otiko Afisa Djaba.

Gender Ministry to add free medical screening to LEAP package
The Ministry for Gender, Children and Social
Protection is to include a regular medical
screening of all beneficiaries in the next cycle
of payment of the Livelihood Empowerment Against
Poverty (LEAP).

The sector Minister, Otiko Afisah Djaba announced
this when paid a working visit to Somanya in the
Eastern region to monitor the 50th Cycle Payment
of LEAP.

Ms. Djaba also disclosed the plans by the Ministry
to develop an exit plan which will include
vocational training for beneficiaries who have
been on the programme for two years. 

The Ministry will assist them to set up small
businesses for better living conditions. 

The Monitoring visit of the Minister was to find
out challenges associated with the programme
during disbursement of cash and how beneficiaries
utilize the funds given to them.

The LEAP programme is the Government of Ghana’s
flagship Social Protection intervention which was
initiated in 2008 to reduce poverty among the
extreme poor and vulnerable households. 


The Gender Minister together with the Yilo Krobo
Municipal Director of the Social Welfare, Mrs.
Sarah Nai-Mensah, Deputy Municipal Coordinating
Director, S. A. Sadique and National officers of
the LEAP programme monitored three (3) payment
points at Adjikpo,
Agavenya and Saweh. The team first made a stop at
the Adjikpo payment point where 51 beneficiaries
were receiving their cash. 

At the Adjikpo payment point, many
non-beneficiaries thronged the venue to appeal to
the Minister to consider their inclusion onto the
LEAP programme.

According to Otiko Afisah Djaba, the programme
specifically seeks to improve basic household
consumption and nutrition as well as increasing
access to health care among the aged (65 years and
above without any support), orphans and vulnerable
children, persons with severe disabilities without
productive capacity, and pregnant women with
children under 1 year.

She advised all those wishing to be on the
programme to exercise patience since the Ministry
is in the process of clearing the names of
deceased persons on the LEAP’s register through
auditing - to make room for new entries.

Some of the beneficiaries expressed their
appreciation to the government for the support
given to them through the LEAP programme and
however called for an adjustment in the amount
they receive bi-monthly.

The Minister and her team prior to the monitoring
paid a courtesy call on the Oklepeme Nene Anorbaa
Safroku II in Somanya where she was warmly
received as a proud daughter of the land.

Otiko Afisah Djaba also inspected the quality of
food served pupils of Aklorley Basic School under
the Ghana School Feeding Programme.

She interacted with the pupils and urged them to
take their studies serious to become future
leaders.  
  

Source - Myjoyonline.com

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