Health Minister-designate and the immediate past Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority, Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, has called for diverse streams of support for Autistic children, stating that government can only do little to help these special ones.
Dr. Okoe-Boye speaking with Metro TV at the sidelines during Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s engagement with members of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana and its allied organizations as part of his “Bold Solutions For the Future Engagements” said the government is overburdened with other commitment and cannot exclusively cater for the needs of Autistic children without support from Civil Society Groups.
“ Yes, they will have some level of support from the government, but when you go and check, majority or substantial part of their support comes from private trust, Civil Society Groups, Special Advocacy Group that goes out there to make a case and raise money but in this Country I have realised that it is one of the things that we don’t do much. Everything, everybody looks at Government, the Government is us, what Government have is the taxes we pay. If let’s say Government is receiving the same amount of money but everybody need attention, the question is that, how do you do it? “ He said.
Dr, Bernard Okoe-Boye, also the New Patriotic Party’s candidate for Ledzokuku Constituency says the Health Ministry is willing to partner with advocacy groups, to assist them in setting up a credible group to raise money for autistic children and to improve their lives.
“The Ministry of Health is willing to meet special groups that are interested in pushing some of this drives, we will help them in the setup if its even a token that we have to get or give so that they get established, we are willing to do all these things, so that at the end of the day, it will not be only Government centered…and you’ll be amazed when we do all these things there’s a lot that we can do for all these Children,” says the Health Minister Designate.
April 2 of every year has been declared by the United Nations as World Autism Awareness Day. This forms part of an effort to encourage its member states to raise awareness, promote acceptance and appreciate autistic people.
By: Vanessa Edotom Boateng | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana
