KODPA presents medical supplies worth GH¢16,620 to Catholic Secretariat

The Koforidua Diocesan Priests’ Association (KODPA) has presented some personal protective equipment and medical supplies worth GH¢16,620 to the Koforidua Catholic Diocese Secretariat.

The items which included large numbers of face masks and shields, surgical gloves, hand sanitisers, tissues, detergents, liquid soaps among others were to be shared among all catholic medical centres (Diocesan Health Directorate) in the Eastern Region.

Presenting the items, the President of KODPA, Father Joseph Attah Affum Asumadu said the items were meant to help the hospitals in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic which has bedeviled the country and the whole world.

He revealed that the items were purchased and donated from personal contributions made by the priests in the associations as part of their widow’s mite to also help in the fight against the pandemic.

“The priests came together to support our Bishop, Most Rev. Joseph Afrifa- Agyekum in the fight against COVID-19 by making personal contributions to purchase these items so that we can also support in our very little way.”  

He said so far, two of their hospitals had recorded some positive cases and hoped that the items would help to protect the medical staff who were serving as front liners to take care of the patients.

Receiving the items on behalf of the Catholic Bishop of Koforidua Diocese, Reverend Monsignor Francis Twum-Barmah, Vicar General of the Koforidua Catholic Diocese was grateful to the priests of the KODPA for their kind donation, adding that the items would help complement the efforts of the government in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

He appealed to individuals and institutions to emulate the gesture and also give to the hospitals in the country “so that together we can help the government to fight this pandemic.”

Monsignor Twum-Barimah, however, advised the public to abide by all safety protocols including wearing of masks, proper hand washing, respiratory hygiene, social distancing and staying at home, among others, to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

He added that by abiding by the safety protocols it would also ensure that the citizenry in their own way would help curb the spread of the virus. 

He also appealed to the general public to stop stigmatising persons who have been diagnosed to be positive or have recovered from the virus.

“It is disheartening to hear people stigmatising such persons instead of showing them love and care. I will appeal that the public shouldhave some sympathy for these people and rather show love to them,” he stated. 

From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua