Constitution

 CONSTITUTION OF THE FRIENDS OF HEALTH ASSOCIATION

INTRODUCTION

By this perceive we the love of God because He laid down His life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods and sees his brother have need and shuts up his heart of compassion from him, how dwells the love of God in him? 1 John 3:16-17.

 

Friends of Health Association is a registered N.G.O in Ghana with the registration number G-31, 189 under the company’s code1963. This N.G.O seeks to address the health problems of all Ghanaians and beyond who may need its assistance in accordance with the vision and objectives of the Association. The N.G.O goes into assessing the health status of the individual. Health education on prevalent health issues, blood donation and so forth. Friends of Health Association was formed by Agbotro Kwasi Jefferson on the 1st July, 2008. The founders are student Nurses and Midwives of the Nursing and Midwifery Training College- Berekum.

 

ARTICLE 1

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The following are the aims and objectives of the association.

  • To undertake health education on conditions of concern to the community Ministry of Health and W.H.O.
  • To promote and assist persons undertaking health education in the community.
  • To ensure that health service is assessable to the poor and needy in the society.
  • To mobilise and support people living with conditions such as HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, Malaria e.t.c.
  • To organise refresher courses for members on current issues in health.
  • To establish clubs in colleges and schools to train students on health problems plaguing the society especially campaingn against disease such as Hepatitis B, Malaria and so on.
  • To print health educational materials for distribution.

ARTICLE 2

MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the association shall be voluntary. Such a member shall be accepted in the association after confirmation from majority of the members that he or she should be accepted. He or she shall fill the membership forms afterwards.

 

ARTICLE 3

REGISTRATION OR TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP

Registration shall be done through an official letter to the office of the Director. Anyone who resigns shall have no power to claim his or her inputs to the association. The Director in consultation with the advisors may terminate the membership of the person or group of persons who are threat to the association. Such a person shall have no claims to any benefit of the group.

 

ARTICLE 4

CLAUSE 1:

OFFICERS

The association shall have the following officers:

a) NATIONAL EXECUTIVES

  • Executive Director
  • Project Officer
  • Public Relations Officer
  • Secretary
  • Coordinator
  • Chaplain
  • Legal Advisor
  • Financial Secretary
  • Treasurer
  • Travelling Secretary
  • Organiser
  • 1st Deputy Organiser
  • 2nd Deputy Organiser
  • Internet Technician
  • 2 Executive Members

 

ADVISORS

There shall be five advisors to help in the day to day activities of the association.

 

b) BOARD OF GOVERNORS

There shall be five members Board of Governors for the association. The membership includes the following.

  • The Executive Director
  • The Patrons
  • The Secretary
  • The Financial Secretary
  • The Project Officer
  • 1 Advisor

c) CLAUSE 2:

REGIONAL EXECUTIVES

The association shall have the following executives at the Regional level.

  • The President
  • Project Officer
  • Public Relations Officer
  • Secretary
  • Coordinator
  • Chaplain
  • The Financial Secretary
  • Organiser
  • Treasurer
  • 3 Advisors
  • 2 Executive Members.

 

d) The association shall have the following executives at the local level.

  • The President
  • Project Officer
  • Public Relations Officer
  • Secretary
  • Coordinator
  • Chaplain
  • The Financial Secretary
  • Organiser
  • Treasurer
  • 2 Advisors
  • 2 Executive Members.

 

CLAUSE 2: DUTIES OF OFFICERS

NATIONAL EXECUTIVES

  • The Executive Director

The Director of the association is to or shall:

  • Initiate programmes for the association.
  • Represent the association in meeting with other N.G.O’s.
  • Ensure effective cooperation among members.
  • Identify resources available for the association.
  • Plan programmes for the association.
  • Bear signatory to the association’s accounts.
  • Ensure the sustainability of the association i.e promotion of sustainable development.

 

  • Project Officer

The Project Officer shall:

  • Act and stand in the absence of the director.
  • Ensure that all programmes are carried out as planned.
  • Assess the level of needs of persons or individuals who may need the services of the association.
  • Ensure the execution of projects by contractors.
  • Search for resources for the association.
  • Draw programmes quarterly, yearly for the association.

 

PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

The P.R.O shall:

  • Relate the association to other N.G.O’s.
  • Ensure adequate publicity of the associations activities and its benefits to the communities and the Nation as a whole.
  • Be the official mouth piece of the association to the media.
  • Search or fish for information that is helpful to the growth of the association.
  • Look for sponsorship for programmes to be carried out.
  • Identify resources in the community that are good for the achievement of the aims and objectives stated in article 1.
  • Disseminate information from the director to all officials, members and vice-versa.

 

 

  • GENERAL SECRETARY

The General Secretary shall:

  • Take minutes in all meetings.
  • Take records of all received letters and mails.
  • See to it that all mails are sent to the appropriate quarters.
  • Work hand in hand with the Director.
  • Be a member of the Board of Governors.
  • Send information within the association.

 

  • ORGANISERS

The organisers shall:

  • Make arrangements for all programmes to be carried out as planned.
  • Organise resources – both material and human resources.
  • Organise people in communities, churches and schools for programmes to be carried out.

 

 

  • GENERAL COORDINATOR

The General Coordinator shall:

  • Coordinate the activities of the association and schools, churches and community to achieve the aims and objectives of the association.
  • Ensure peaceful co-existence of members of the association by ensuring unity and stability.
  • There shall be sub-coordinators on each campus to assist in the roles of the coordinator.

 

  • FINANCIAL SECRETARY

The Financial Secretary shall:

  • Keep records of all finances of the association.
  • Bear signatory to the association’s accounts.
  • Be accountable to the association quarterly in a year.
  • In collaboration with the executives, prepare annual budget for specific programmes or projects.
  • Collect dues
  • Be a member of the Board of Governors.

 

  • TREASURER

The treasurer shall:

  • Deposit all monies collected promptly.
  • Keep money when the need arises.
  • Work hand in hand with the financial secretaries and other executives.

 

 

  • CHAPLAIN

The Chaplain shall:

  • See to the spiritual growth of the association.
  • Identify resources for the association.
  • Solve disputes or conflicts among members and ensure unity in the association.
  • Pray for the association at least 3 hours a week.

 

  • INTERNET TECHNICIAN

The Internet Technician shall:

  • Make the association known through the internet.
  • Search for sponsorship for the association through the internet.
  • Be responsible for updating the website of the association at least once every week.
  • Connect and link the others to the association through facebook.
  • Send and reply mails of the association.
  • Be responsible for teaching all executives about internet communication.

 

  • TRAVELLING SECRETARY

The travelling secretary shall:

  • Be the official travelling agent of the association.
  • Travel to the various branches of the association to see to the progress of the association.
  • Carry information from the Director to other executives as well as members when the need arises.
  • Assess the venue of programmes to be carried out to ensure the security of the programme.

 

  • EXECUTIVE MEMBERS

The Executive Members shall:

  • Be part of the executive Board. They shall take part in decision making concerning the association.
  • Undertake any duty as may be prescribed by the director in consultation with the advisors.

 

(b) REGIONAL EXECUTIVES

  • THE PRESIDENT

The President shall:

  • Initiate programmes for the association at the regional level.
  • Plan programmes for the association at the regional level.
  • Preside at meetings and calls for meetings.
  • Represent the association at the national level.
  • Ensure effective cooperation among members.
  • Identify resources available for the association.
  • Bear signatory to the association’s accounts.

 

  • PROJECT OFFICER

The Project Officer shall:

  • Act and stand in the absence of the President.
  • Ensure that all programmes are carried out as planned.
  • Assess the level of needs of persons or individuals who may need the services of the association.
  • Ensure the execution of projects by contractors.
  • Search for resources for the association.
  • Draw programmes quarterly, yearly for the association in consultation with other executives.

 

  • SECRETARIES

The General Secretary shall:

  • Take minutes in all meetings.
  • Take records of all received letters and mails.
  • See to it that all mails are sent to the appropriate quarters.
  • Work hand in hand with the President.
  • Send information within the association from national to local and vice-versa.

 

  • ORGANISER

The organiser shall:

  • Make arrangements for all programmes to be carried out as planned.
  • Organise resources – both material and human resources.
  • Organise people in communities, churches and schools for programmes to be carried out.

 

  • COORDINATOR

The Coordinator shall:

  • Coordinate the activities of the association at the regional level to achieve the aims and objectives of the association.
  • Ensure peaceful co-existence of members of the association by ensuring unity and stability.
  • Be the overseer of clubs in the region.

 

PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

The P.R.O shall:

  • Relate the association to other N.G.O’s at the regional level.
  • Ensure adequate publicity of the associations activities and its benefits to the communities and the Nation as a whole.
  • Search for information that is helpful for the growth of the association.
  • Be the official mouth piece of the association to the media.
  • Look for sponsorship for programmes to be carried out.
  • Identify resources in the community that are good for the achievement of the aims and objectives stated in article 1.
  • Disseminate information from the President to all officials, members and vice-versa.

 

  • FINANCIAL SECRETARY

The Financial Secretary shall:

  • Keep records of all finances of the association.
  • Bear signatory to the association’s accounts.
  • Be accountable to the association quarterly in a year.
  • In collaboration with the executives, prepare annual budget for specific programmes or projects.
  • Collect dues

 

  • TREASURER

The treasurer shall:

  • Deposit all monies collected promptly.
  • Keep money when the need arises.
  • Work hand in hand with the financial secretaries and other executives.

 

  • CHAPLAIN

The Chaplain shall:

  • See to the spiritual growth of the association.
  • Identify resources for the association.
  • Solve disputes or conflicts among members and ensure unity in the association at the regional level.
  • Pray for the association at least 3 hours a week.

 

 

  • EXECUTIVE MEMBERS

The Executive Members shall:

  • Be part of the executive Board. They shall take part in decision making concerning the association.
  • Undertake any duty as may be prescribed by the director in consultation with the advisors.

 

(C) LOCAL EXECUTIVES

  • THE PRESIDENT

The President shall:

  • Initiate programmes for the association at the regional level.
  • Plan programmes for the association at the local level.
  • Represent the association at the regional level.
  • Preside at meetings and calls for meetings.
  • Ensure effective cooperation among members.
  • Identify resources available for the association.
  • Bear signatory to the association’s accounts.
  • Ensure the sustainability of the association.

 

  • PROJECT OFFICER

The Project Officer shall:

  • Act and stand in the absence of the President.
  • Ensure that all programmes are carried out as planned.
  • Assess the level of needs of persons or individuals who may need the services of the association.
  • Ensure the execution of projects by contractors.
  • Search for resources for the association.
  • Draw programmes quarterly, yearly for the association in consultation with other executives.

 

  • SECRETARY

The General Secretary shall:

  • Take minutes in all meetings.
  • Take records of all received letters and mails.
  • See to it that all mails are sent to the appropriate quarters.
  • Work hand in hand with the President.
  • Send information within the association.

 

  • ORGANISER

The organiser shall:

  • Make arrangements for all programmes to be carried out as planned.
  • Organise resources – both material and human resources.
  • Organise people in communities, churches and schools for programmes to be carried out.

 

  • COORDINATOR

The Coordinator shall:

  • Coordinate the activities of the association and schools, churches and the community at the local level to achieve the aims and objectives stated above.
  • Coordinate with the regional coordinator for the progress of the association.
  • Ensure peaceful co-existence of members of the association by ensuring unity and stability.

 

PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

The P.R.O shall:

  • Relate the association to other N.G.O’s.
  • Ensure adequate publicity of the associations activities and its benefits to the communities and the Nation as a whole.
  • Search for information that is helpful for the growth of the association.
  • Look for sponsorship for programmes to be carried out.
  • Identify resources in the community that are good for the achievement of the aims and objectives stated in article 1.
  • Disseminate information from the President to all officials, members and vice-versa.

 

  • FINANCIAL SECRETARY

The Financial Secretary shall:

  • Keep records of all finances of the association.
  • Bear signatory to the association’s accounts.
  • Be accountable to the association every semester (for branches on campuses) quarterly in a year.
  • In collaboration with the executives, prepare annual budget for specific programmes or projects.
  • Collect dues

 

  • TREASURER

The treasurer shall:

  • Deposit all monies collected promptly.
  • Keep money when the need arises.
  • Work hand in hand with the financial secretaries and other executives.

 

  • CHAPLAIN

The Chaplain shall:

  • See to the spiritual growth of the association.
  • Identify resources for the association.
  • Solve disputes or conflicts among members and ensure unity in the association.
  • Pray for the association at least 3 hours a week.

 

 

  • EXECUTIVE MEMBERS

The Executive Members shall:

  • Be part of the executive Board. They shall take part in decision making concerning the association.
  • Undertake any duty as may be prescribed by the director in consultation with the advisors.

 

NB: Notwithstanding the above functions, all executives shall undertake other assignments as may be directed by the director or president(s) in consultation with the advisors.

 

ARTICLE 5

  • Sanction(s) of Executives

 

  • Any executive who fails to attend meetings or gatherings of the association without any tangible reason shall be given a query letter.
  • Failure to attend meetings for three consecutive times without any tangible reason warrant removal from office.
  • Any executive whose act or behaviour contravenes the aims and objectives of the Association shall be warned. If unable to reform, shall be taken out of office.
  • The name and values of the Association shall be held in high esteem by all the executives.

 

ARTICLE 6A

  • FUNDING OF THE ASSOCIATION

The Association shall be funded through:

  • dues from members.
  • Sponsorships and donations
  • Fund raising

 

ARTICLE 6B

  • FINANCES AND BANKING

The Association shall have an account(s). The following people shall bear signatories to the account.

ü      The Director (Authority signatory)

ü      The Financial Secretary

ü      The Treasurer

 

  • At the Regional and Local levels:
  • The President (authority signatory).
  • The Financial Secretary
  • The Treasurer.

 

ARTICLE 6C

  • DUES ON DUES

There shall be payment of 30% dues on dues of all the total dues collected in every semester which shall be paid 14 days before the end of the semester (for branches on campuses) and every six months for branches outside the schools.

 

ARTICLE 7

  • BENEFICIARIES

The beneficiaries shall be:

  • Pregnant women and children below 5 years who need blood.
  • Students or groups who organise programmes in line with the aims and objectives of the association (both material and financial support) if possible.
  • Patients from poor backgrounds that is individuals who earn less than 80 Ghana pesewas a day (financial support).
  • Women in their reproductive age (health education).
  • Churches, schools, colleges, staff and communities as a whole (health education).

 

ARTICLE 8

ACTIVITIES

The main activity of the Association shall be: health education, blood donation exercise, clean-up exercises and financial support in accordance with the aims and objectives of the Association.

  • There shall be health education at least once every month in churches, schools and on air about current health problems.
  • There shall be a community outreach programme (house to house) campaign at least once in a quarter on prevailing disease conditions.
  • There shall be mass blood donation exercise at least twice a year to support the sick who need blood.
  • 1st of July shall be celebrated every year as the F.O.H.A’s birthday and blood donation or community outreach be done in its honour.
  • There shall be refresher courses for members at least once in every six months on current issues in health.
  • There shall be a Christmas party for orphans and widows.
  • There shall be programme outline for every year.

 

 

ARTICLE 9A

  • BENEFITS TO MEMBERS
  • Members shall be given refresher tuition to update their knowledge.
  • Members shall be exposed to the use of computer and shall have access to computers.
  • There shall be end of year get together for members.

 

ARTICLE 9B

  • BENEFITS TO PARTICIPANTS IN PROGRAMMES.
  • Participants shall be motivated by providing them with certificates of participation, handouts, books and financial motivation if possible.

ARTICLE 10

  • Motto of the Association.

The motto of the Association shall be: F.O.H.A – Your Health First.

 

ARTICLE 11

  • GUIDING PRINCIPLE

By this perspective, we by the love of God, because He laid down His life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whosoever has this world’s goods and sees his brother have need and shuts up in his heart of compassion from him, how dwells the love of God in him? 1 John 3:16-17.

 

ARTICLE 12

  • ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE OF F.O.H.A. GHANA.

Board of Governors

ǀ

National Executives Council

ǀ

Regional Executives Council

ǀ

Local Executives Council

 

  • The Director shall be the chairman of the National Executives Council
  • The President shall be the chairman of the chairman of the Regional and Local Executives Council.

Thus, the flow chart is from the Board of Governors (the highest decision making body) – National Executives – Regional Executives – Local Executives.

Similarly, information from the local level to the National level must pass through the Regional level.

 

ARTICLE 13

  • TERMS OF OFFICE FOR OFFICERS

 

  • National Executives: 4 years after which elections shall be held.
  • Regional Executives: 2 years after which elections shall be held.
  • Local Executives: 1 year after which elections shall be held.

NB: Officers who are eligible can be re-elected.

Notwithstanding these rules, the Director can appoint an officer(s) in consultation with the advisors.

 

ARTICLE 14

  • QUALIFICATION OF BEING ELECTED.

 

  • A candidate for election into any office should be a registered member for at least six months.
  • Such a candidate should write to the secretary in 21 clear days before the date of the election either at the National, Regional or Local level.
  • Election shall be done through the ballot box.

ARTICLE 15A

  • NATIONAL ANNUAL ACTIVITES

 

  • General Executive Council Meeting comprising of all executives at the National, Regional and Local levels – 1st Saturday in each month.
  • F.O.H.A National Blood donation day – 1st of July every year.
  • Leadership/Refresher courses for all members. – 1st week of May.

 

ARTICLE 15B

  • NATIONAL PROJECTS

 

  • Sickle Cell
  • TB
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Reproductive Health

 

ARTICLE 16

  • HEADQUARTERS

 

  • Currently, the Headquarters is in Sunyani just opposite the Regional Hospital, within Healthway Medical Diagnostic Services’ premises.

 

VISION STATEMENT

Reducing the number of clients requiring hospital admission by 50% by the year 2015.

 

MISSION STATEMENT

To prolong the lives of people and improve upon their health status through health education, medical screening, development of potentials, mental adjustment and moral intelligence by making informed choices.

ANTHEM

Foha Foha your health comes first

Friends of health association

We give you health education, your health is our prime objective

Blood donation we give out to you

Primary health care, we give good care

HIV patients we care for you

Your health is our prime objective

Foha: your health first!

Foha: your health first!

Foha: your health first!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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