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5.6 COMPONENT 6: Interviews
Interviews were carried out to understand the role of the individuals and institutions in the fishery industry and the overall state of the community.
5.6.1 The Medical centers:
Records at the health facilities; Apam Reproductive Child Health and Apam Catholic Hospital on disease occurrence show that malaria, diarrhea, skin diseases are reported most
often. The sanitation situation in the communitiy is very bad because almost every house suffers during the raining season as there are issues of flood and the stench is unhealthy.
Information on earlier interventions in the area is that the hospitals in the community from time to time conduct outreach programs to educate them on good surroundings and personal
hygiene.
5.6.2 The Schools:
Most of the teachers in the Basic Schools are trained teachers. Most of their logistics are not supply on time but they do with what is available. School attendance is not encouraging due
absentism and child delinquency. The extra curriculum activities observedare out door games, drumming and dancing.Children play truancy in
school, they don’t do home works. During major season they are out of the classroom to make money on the seas. Part time
activities carried out by children are hawking for their parents. Opportunities available for children are scholarships that are awarded to needy but brilliant students by the District
Assembly.
5.6.3 The Chief fisherman:
The Chief fisherman proposed for byelaws to regulate the standards in the fishing industry. According to him non-availability of byelaws is making compliance difficult. His issues with
the fishing methods is that punitive measures be applied to discourage the use of chemicals, dynamites, mosquito nets and any means that are unlawful. Raising of soft loans, logistics,
high cost of premixed fuel, lack of proper safety measures are some of their challenges in the fishing industry. Suggestions on how to replenish fish stock is fishermen should not catch
fish when the fishes are with eggs. They should be allowed to produce the fingerlings.
5.6.4 The District Assembly: