The Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) Ladies Association has donated assorted items to their mother organization to help curb the spread of the coronavirus, in a short ceremony held at the Commission’s auditorium.
The presentation of the donated items coincided with its one-year anniversary celebration.
In her opening remarks, the President of the Association, Prof. Mary Boadu, stated that due to the current global pandemic and the ban on all forms of mass social gatherings in the country, the Association decided to celebrate its one-year anniversary on the quiet by donating items to support the efforts GAEC is making to fight the disease.
“On 11th March 2020, the Director-General of WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, implying that the disease is not just a public health crisis, it is a crisis that will touch every sector. Global data shows how fast the disease is spreading and Ghana has also seen a rapid increase in people infected with the virus”, she added.
Prof. Boadu said that the best method of protection against COVID-19 has been shown to be regular washing of hands, surfaces, wearing of face masks, and maintaining social distancing.
“Hence water, soap, hand sanitizers, paper towels, etc. are very essential and key in the fight against COVID-19”, she said.
She revealed that the Commission since the declaration of the disease as a pandemic and the prescription of the associated precautionary measures has been providing the needed essentials.
“With this observation, GAEC Ladies Association thought of a way to support GAEC even if on a limited scale”, she revealed.
“It is with great joy and honour that I present the items before us to the Director-General and Management of GAEC on behalf of GAEC Ladies Association, to support the efforts of the Commission to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus in the offices of GAEC. We are ready to use our imagination, creativity and our curiosity to impact the Commission and our World, both in technical and social forms”, said the President.
The Director-General (DG) of GAEC, Prof. Benjamin J.B. Nyarko, in a short statement thanked the Ladies’ Association for their kind gesture to help curb the spread of the disease. He also took the opportunity to congratulate them on their one-year anniversary celebration.
Prof. Nyarko was also thankful to all the associations of the Commission for their immense support nationally and within GAEC during this trying period.
He revealed that the Research Scientist Association (RSA) made a donation to the GAEC hospital to help augment their efforts to fight against the disease.
Also, the DG indicated that in addition to some equipment and kits supplied by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Research Scientists Association (RSA), and Association of Senior Members in Administration (ASMA) of GAEC, made a cheque donation to the Government.
Prof Nyarko also revealed that the Technical Staff Association (TSA) of the Commission in conjunction with the National Nuclear Research Institute (NNRI) has submitted a hand sanitizer formulation to the Food and Drugs Authority for certification. This he said will enable them to produce hand sanitizers for the Commission and also on a commercial scale.
He added that The TSA has also submitted some drawings produced by the Mechanical Workshop of the Commission for approval and onward manufacture, to help dispense water and soap from Veronica buckets without touching them.
He revealed that GAEC is contributing immensely to the fight against the disease.
“Officials from Noguchi Memorial Institute and the Ghana COVID-19 secretariat have inspected the Radiological and Medical Sciences Research Institute’s (RAMSRI) laboratories and a report has been sent to the Minister of Health for the building to be used in this fight”.
The Director-General indicated that GAEC has also placed a request through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the IAEA to support the Accra Veterinary laboratory with equipment to test for the presence of the virus in animals, bearing in mind the belief that the virus is zoonotic, that is, can be transmitted between animals and humans.
He indicated that the IAEA is supporting member states in Asia, Latin America, and Africa including Ghana with equipment for the frontline laboratories and workers to fight the disease.
He finally thanked the GAEC security for their tireless efforts in protecting Staff and equipment especially during the lockdown.
By OCPA
