Peak Milk organizes health talk; donates to kayeyei

FrieslandCampina West Africa Limited, owners of the Peak Milk brand in Ghana, have organized a health talk for head potters, popularly known as Kayayei, at the Children’s Park in Accra, in line with its commitment to promoting good nutrition among Ghanaians.

The event which was attended by Mrs. Comfort Asare, Director of Social Welfare, representing Nana Oye Lithur, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and some key functionaries of the ministry; witnessed the registration of approximately 500 head potters on the National Health Insurance Scheme. The event also saw some donation and health talk to the various Kayayei groups present.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Adewale Adeola, Regional Commercial Manager, FrieslandCampina West Africa Limited, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to promoting good nutrition among Ghanaians stressing that: ‘‘we offer Ghanaians a product that provides building materials and fuels for good nutrition in the form of proteins, vitamins and minerals .’’

Justifying the choice of the Kayayei group for the gesture, he indicated that it was largely informed by their awareness of the plights and susceptibility of head potters.

‘‘As a community-oriented and socially-responsible brand, we have taken notice, with concern, the hassle and difficulties of these head potters. We are aware that the nature of their job makes them susceptible to many health problems, reason for this gesture,’’ he noted.

Speaking on behalf of Nana Oye Lithur, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Director of Social Welfare, Mrs. Comfort Asare outlined a number of interventions the government is putting in place to ameliorate the plights of the head potters in the country.

‘‘Our goal, in the long term, is to ensure that the Kayayei phenomenon reduces to its minimal level,’’ she added.

While lauding Peak Milk’s initiative, she called on the corporate community to emulate the gesture, stating, ‘‘Social Protection can be achieved through the concerted efforts of key stakeholder groups, especially the corporate community.’’

Abiba Alhassan, a beneficiary of the Programme was full of praise to Peak Milk for the gesture.

‘‘I am particularly happy with the health talk. It has been very educative and I am certain it will help us to live a healthy life,” she said.