CHAG, through UKAID, is providing these motorbikes to enable service providers to reach out to mentally ill persons within their own communities, in support of government’s efforts at de-institutionalising mental healthcare.

 

CHAG is the umbrella organisation that coordinates the activities of the Christian Health Institutions and churches Health programmes in Ghana.

 

Reverend Titus Awotwe Pratt, the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, on Tuesday dedicated the motorbikes and urged the beneficiaries to put them to good use.

 

He cautioned them against using the motorbikes for commercial activities adding; “Use them for the purpose for which it was given so as to benefit the citizens”.

 

“This is a Christian undertaking, not limited to only Christians but Christians going into society and assisting society to put things right. And in this matter helping those with mental illness,” he said.

 

He expressed gratitude to the UK Government for the donation; adding “Let’s thank God that UKAID has made this wonderful and outstanding gesture. Let us use them in such a way that they will appreciate and add more. Next time who knows? Perhaps land rovers will come.”

 

Bishop Awotwe Pratt urged the beneficiaries to be good ambassadors of Christ.

 

He said statistics showed that 75 per cent of the population had mental disorders, whereas others were not aware that they had mental disorders extreme anger could be a sign.

 

Mr Peter K. Yeboah, the Chief Executive Officer, CHAG, said the motorbikes would be distributed to all CHAG member institutions actively providing mental healthcare.

 

He said CHAG existed primarily to promote the development and sustainability of Church Health Services anytime, anywhere, and everywhere the need beckoned.

 

It is a body through which all or most of the churchs health related  facilities/programmes liaise with the Ministry of Health to ensure proper collaboration and complementation of the Government efforts at providing for the health needs of Ghanaians.

 

CHAG is pursuing health system strengthening programmes and projects to build capacity for all its 288 member institutions spread in all the 10 regions of Ghana.

 

Mr Sam Sarpong Appiah, the Vice Chair, CHAG Board of Trustees, said mental health was one of the neglected areas in the health sector; stating that “as Christian health institutions, our core business is to take care of the poor and needy in society and mental health should not be neglected”.

 

He said their facilities were not for profit, however, breaking even should be their goal.

 

Mr Enoch Osafo, the Health Director of the Methodist Church Ghana, on behalf of the beneficiaries, promised to put the motorbikes to good use.

 

GNA