YOUTH ATTACK HEALTH WORKERS(SPREAD, MAY 5, 2010)

The Upper East Regional Health Directorate has ordered the closure of the Community-Based Health Planning Service (CHPS) compound at Teshi, a community in the Bawku West District.
This follows a mob attack on the health officers by some youth of the community.
The three health officers have, consequently, been redeployed to Zebilla and Bolgatanga.
During the polio immunisation programme, some youth were alleged to have stolen mobile phones belonging to the health officers and they later lodged a complaint with the chief of the area, who invited the youth and rebuked them.
While the officers were on their way from the chief’s palace after the incident, the youth accosted the health officers, threw stones at them and physically assaulted them.
When contacted, the Upper East Regional Director of Health Services, Dr John Koku Awoonor-Williams, confirmed the closure of the facility.
He also told the Daily Graphic that the Regional Health Directorate would not tolerate any attacks on its staff.
“These are young persons who are sacrificing their lives and helping the community save lives,” he said, adding, “Such attacks on essential service providers are highly intolerable.”
He said the incident occurred at a time when efforts were underway to expand the structures at the facility and stressed that until the situation was thoroughly resolved, no health officers would be posted to the area.
Dr Awoonor-Williams said there were many channels available to communities dissatisfied with any health official to address issues and urged them to utilise the channels but not take the law into their own hands.
“If that happens, we can’t post any health officer to such a community,” he added.
Meanwhile, the incident is being investigated by the police in Zebila after a formal complaint had been lodged by the victims.