The end of the calendar year is always a time to get together to celebrate the WARA Christmas party. It is not only a seasonal gathering for the sake of the Christmas season but also an opportunity for management to show gratitude to our team which we have specifically selected, employed and deeply appreciate.

The year 2008 has been a very special year for WARA. Our company has grown and developed in many ways. All this positive growth has come with a huge amount of effort and hard work from each and every one of our team members. For this management is extremely thankful. This means we have picked the right team of people.

Last year, we had one permanent doctor, 2009 will see us having four. Last year, we had rotational paramedics, 2009 will see us having in addition 4 fully employed permanent paramedics. We are also very pleased to welcome on board Ms. Yuki Ampofo, our Administrative Manager who joined us from the 1st of December, 2008.

Last year WARA did not have a clinic, now we have two, and a fully fledged second ambulance base. In the last quarter of this year, we have also been involved in acquiring more equipment for our clinic in Accra and for our operations in Takoradi. We now operate an X-Ray Unit, Ultra Sound Equipments, a full laboratory unit, clinical 12 lead ECG machines, Audiometers and Spirometers for pre-employment, annual as well as residency medicals.

These represent a lot of changes in one year, showing a lot of growth and a lot of development. Our goal for the coming year is to continue to provide an exceptional professional service by all standards. We also plan to position ourselves in readiness for the expected growth and demand for our services. This way, we will certainly reap the benefits of all the work, effort and investment. We look forward to an exciting year ahead and to continue to deliver the high standard of services required of us.

The management and staff of WARA take this opportunity to wish all our members a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Florian Zagel,
Managing Director

Thank you for donating blood!
WARA wishes to say a big thank you to every one who contributed to make our blood donation day such a success! We managed to collect 58 units of blood in 7 seven hours, meaning we collected a pint of blood every eight minutes, which we feel is an exceptional effort. .

For our team it was a pleasure to work with the enthusiastic and hard working National Blood Service Team to produce an excellent outcome of blood for the National blood bank. Special thanks also go to all donors for their willingness and readiness to contribute to a worthy cause. To them we say “people like you make the difference between life and death for patients in need of blood.”

To our WARA staff also, we say thanks a lot for your dedication. Ayekoo!

Next WARA Blood Donation
While we are saying thank you, we also wish to announce that all is set for the next blood donation exercise. The date is Saturday the 24th of January, 2009, from 9:00am prompt. Once again our effort is being supported by GAME and the National blood bank. We look forward to see more of our members donating this time, and also look forward to receive regular blood donors as well as first timers.

Together with our supporters we will do everything we can to make your blood donation experience as comfortable and pleasant as possible.

WARA PROVIDES TRAINING FOR GHANA AQUATIC LIFESAVERS
According to WHO statistics drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death worldwide. This certainly calls for the promotion of safety at all water front facilities. To this end, WARA recently provided first aid training for members of the Ghana Aquatic Lifesavers, a non Governmental Organization of trained and certified Lifeguards and Pool Attendants/Waterfront Supervisors in Ghana.

Their aim is to prevent aquatic accidents and drowning death. They do this through creating awareness of water safety and by encouraging and ensuring that water front facilities operators adopt internationally acceptable water safety rules and regulations for preserving human life.

Ghana’s good sunshine and water bodies have become tourist-based revenue generating avenues at both the community and national levels. The Aquatic Lifesavers efforts at promoting the safety of Ghanaian holiday makers, the growing international community members and tourists alike, who patronize water front facilities, is highly commendable and timely and Wara will continue to assist with their first aid training requirements.

Mr. Mike-Nero Vuvor, President of Ghana Aquatic Lifesavers (right) presenting a painting on behalf of the Lifesavers to show their appreciation for the first aid training recently received from WARA. Receiving the painting on behalf of WARA is Caroline Pearmann, GM Marketing and Medical Evaluation.

AWARNESS OF WARA CAR STICKERS
Is your WARA car sticker clearly displayed on the windshield of your vehicle(s)? We encourage all our members to ensure that their vehicles have a WARA sticker conspicuously displayed on the front and back of their car windshields.

This is to ensure that anyone else apart from yourself can contact us whenever the need arises and you are unable to call us yourself. In view of this, the people you spend time with must be made aware of your membership with WARA. This is equally important at the institutions and facilities where you tend to spend a lot of time (e.g. sports clubs, gyms, schools, place of work, etc) Please bear in mind that the only time to remove the sticker from your car is when selling it to a non member!!!

WARA ASSITS CRITICALLY BURNED VICTIMS
WARA was called upon by the Ghana Air Force to assist in transporting critically burned victims referred from Techiman Holy Family Hospital after the recent disaster at Tanoso when the fuel tanker burst into flames.

This was a call for us to contribute to alleviate the pain and suffering of the surviving victims. In all, our Doctor and Paramedic on duty attended to 14 of the patients (all with over 90% burns), flown in by the Ghana Air Force Aircraft. After immediate screening and assessment they were transported to Korle Bu, and the 37 Military Hospital.

HEALTH CONCERN – RABIES
There has been a confirmed increase in the incidence of rabies in Ghana recently. The WARA Clinic has also recorded an increase in the incidence of bite victims especially in the last three months.

This brings to mind the vaccination of animals, our pets for that matter. Our members are therefore reminded to ensure:

• That their dogs/pets are regularly vaccinated by appropriate and reputable service providers with a reliable cold chain system in place.

• In addition we recommend that dog owners minimize the contact between their dogs and stray dogs to reduce the rate of potential infections  

• Those whose jobs require them to handle animals should certainly look art being vaccinated against rabies as a precautionary method.

• Finally any animal bites of our members should be reported to us immediately so we can recommend the best treatment.

From Members For Members