ADA-FOAH

In March 2004, the CEO of CDDF led a team of researchers at the West African Centre for International Parasite Control (WACIPAC) to initiate the first Community Development Association (CDA) modeled on the comprehensive stakeholders approach. The Ada-Foah CDA was established as the first Parasite Control Association (PCA) in Africa, with a comprehensive programme designed to empower deprived local communities to take ownership of disease control activities and therefore avoid a return to poor hygiene and ill health. CDDF social workers and counsellors provide task and skill training and psychosocial services needed to create unique linkages among Identifiable Groups (IG) in communities and establish network to enable them work together. A Representative Assembly (RA) comprising of one representative from each identifiable group (140 in all) elected the PCA Executive Committee with an Advisory Committee to support it.

The PCA located in the Ada-Foah sub-district of the Dangme East District of Ghana has taken the leadership in directly involving communities in health promotion activities for disease control and poverty reduction. The PCA, brings all stakeholders together in a common effort to tackle community needs through seventeen (17) established Task Forces namely; Screening and Treatment Task Force, Health Education Task Force, Environmental & Sanitation Task Force, Fund Raising Task Force, Disease Control Integration Task Force, Publicity & Advocacy Task Force, Poverty Alleviation Task Force, PCA Formation Task Force, PCA Anniversary Celebrations Task Force, PCA Awards Task Force, Logistics Task Force, Research Into Traditional Medicines Task Force, Sociological Research Task Force, Psychological Research Task Force, Philosophical Research Task Force, Beautification and Tourism Task Force and a Sea Defence Task Force, which are peculiar to the needs of the local area.

The Makers of Development in Ada-Foah
It is widely agreed that one of the keys to sustainable development in Africa is a strong partnership involving Government, the private sector and communities in general. In Ada-Foah, this wish for sustainable partnership is being realised through the Community Directed Development (CDD) approach.

At the hob of the partnership is the Local Government (Dangme East District Assembly). The Assembly supported the registration of Parasite Control Association (PCA) as a Community Based Organization (CBO) and further strengthened the organization by assigning two National Service Personnel to support the Ada-Foah Community Development Association (CDA) in its Administration. The District Assembly also observed that the CDA is a unique organization with exciting capability to strengthen the local Government itself through vitalization of its Unit Committee system. The Assembly also communicated to the Parasite Control Association (PCA) about its belief that the CDA could play an effective role in HIV/AIDS awareness creation and control. In anticipation therefore the Local Government prompted the PCA about its preparedness to support an initiative towards containing the HIV/AIDS scare in the local area.

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