Over 6,000 youth passed out on Friday, October 14, under the Youth Employment Agency (YEA)’s Community Health Worker (CHW) module across the 16 regions of Ghana.

For the very first time, the beneficiaries are going to receive a monthly allowance of ¢500, an improvement on the ¢250 received by the previous cohorts.

CHW is a module of the YEA that is focusing on the selection of young indigenes of the various communities, trained and posted to work in selected districts, sub-districts and communities across the country to assist community health officers, nurses and midwives in their health service delivery, particularly in the area of health promotion, disease surveillance and disease prevention.

The current CHW module, in partnership with the Ghana Health Service (GHS), is an improved version of previous ones with a new focus of improving the impact of beneficiaries in their communities, improve the wellbeing of citizens and contribute immensely towards supporting the beneficiaries to identify their career paths.

Speaking at the national passing out ceremony in the Eastern Region, the Chief Executive of YEA, Kofi Baah Agyepong, announced that formal arrangements have been made with the Ministry of Health and GHS to give a special dispensation to the beneficiaries during admissions into nursing training schools, premised on the requisite field and practical knowledge.

He commended President Akufo-Addo for his commitment to youth employment and development, and further dedication to the sustainable development goals.

In the face of severe economic hardships, both locally and globally, funds to run the CHW and other modules have been made available by the government to ensure that the youth have jobs, he added.

The beneficiaries praised government for the opportunity, especially the increment of their allowance.

Mr Agyepong admonished the beneficiaries to be hardworking and diligent in their work as the agency will not countenance truancy, laziness and misbehaviour during their engagement period.

He also hinted that over 15,000 personnel will be recruited in the YEA’s Community Protection Assistants Module in the coming months.

The Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong, together with some MCEs, observed that the interventions would help create more opportunities and alleviate the impact of the current global economic crises on Ghanaians, especially the youth.

Similar ceremonies were held by the YEA in other regions to pass out the beneficiaries.