By Benjamin Mensah
Accra, Sept 19, GNA- The Ghana Rotary Family Health Days, suspended because of the Covid-19, are back, beginning this year from Thursday, September 19 to Saturday, Sept 21, 2024.
“This year the upcoming event… will target around 30,000 underserved individuals in five regions (Greater Accra, Ashanti, Volta, Eastern, and Western),” Mrs. Samira Bawumia, wife of Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, announced.
She made the announcement when she launched the 2024 Ghana Rotary Family Health Days, in Accra, with an encouragement to beneficiaries of the program to take full advantage of the services provided, and beyond that, to continue practicing healthy habits in their daily lives.
“Let us prioritise our health, as it is the most valuable asset we have,” Mrs. Bawumia said.
The Rotary Family Health Days are three-day national health campaigns, held by the Rotary International (RI) in Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, South Africa, and India.
During those three days, the RI partners with local Rotary clubs and health agencies to offer free health screenings and referrals.
There will be free health screenings, HIV testing, tuberculosis and diabetes screening, blood pressure checks, childhood immunisations, and essential supplements like Vitamin A.
This year, there will also be screening for mental health, for which patients have often been stigmatized, or overlooked in the Ghanaian society, though a critical component of overall well-being.
Other screening activities during the three days would be eye testing, ear, nose, and throat screening, deworming and distributing condoms.
“This initiative is not just addressing immediate health needs but is also helping to prevent future health crises,” Mrs. Bawumia said.
Mrs. Bawumia, herself a Rotarian, noted that the Rotary Family Health Days program is a perfect example of “what we can achieve when we come together with a shared purpose.
“Today, we’re here not just as partners in service, but as a community dedicated to improving the health and well-being of our fellow Ghanaians.
The Second Lady reiterated Rotary’s motto, “Service Above Self,” and said it is the heart of everything
Rotarians do, and the Rotary Family Health Days exemplify this spirit of service.
She noted that healthcare is a fundamental human right, yet. some Ghanaians, especially those in underserved and rural areas, struggle to access it.
However, “the Rotary Family Health Days are helping to change this, ensuring that everyone, no matter where they are or what their circumstances, can get the healthcare they need,” Mrs. Bawumia said.
Since the program’s inception in 2014, it has grown from a pilot project in 30 communities to a project spanning 50 communities in six regions and over the past decade, more than 180,000 women, men, and children have received life-saving health services through the initiative.
She commended the partnerships that have made the Rotary Family Health Days such a success. I therefore
Mrs. Bawumia said: “As we launch the 2024 Ghana Rotary Family Health Days, I want to take this opportunity to call on all of us—individuals, organisations, and the private sector—to get involved in this initiative.
“Whether by volunteering, offering resources, or simply spreading the word to those who need these services.
“Each of us has a role to play in ensuring that every Ghanaian has access to quality healthcare.
Madam Florence Maame Hagan, the Rotary Ghana (District 9104) Governor, urged: “Come and let your family’s health sorted out. … These are three days for free health services for your community.”
Nana Yaa Siriboe, Ghana Rotary District Governor Elect, announced that there be a Peace Walk on October 5, 2024, towards next December general elections.
In attendance at the launch were some traditional leaders from the Osu community in Accra.
GNA