By Samuel Yaokumah
Pokrom (E/R), March 12, GNA – As part of International Women Day celebrations, ICDP Ghana and Ultrasound Consultancy International LLC – USA, have provided free maternal health screening at Pokrom in Akuapem South District.
The screening, under its Safe Start Project, which promotes maternal health in communities, was in partnership with Zonta Club of Accra Metropolitan, Ghana Health Services, Camfed and Deeprock.
They also engaged young girls to commemorate the international women’s day.
This was to bring the society’s attention to women’s enormous contributions towards development and inspire the young girls to aspire to reach their full potentials in life.
It was on the theme: “Accelerate Action for Gender Equality.”
Delivering her address, the Country Director of ICDP Ghana, Mrs. Joyce Larnyoh said women should see themselves as integral part of society and place premium on themselves as they developed.
She encouraged adolescent girls to adapt to good personal hygiene, especially during their menstrual cycles. She advised them to eat good meals and take a lot of fruits to nourish their body.
She cautioned the girls to stick to their books and shy away from pre-marital sex, but to develop themselves and let their voices be heard.
Mrs. Dorothy Tackie, the President of Zonta Club of Accra Metropolitan, on her part said “Zontians” on this day, leverage on the opportunity to honour the efforts of women who in diverse ways worked to advance the status of women and girls through services and advocacy to bring about gender equality and to reflect on how they could improve the status of women.
Again, she said maternal mortality remained a critical concern in Ghana, especially in the rural areas where access to essential prenatal care is limited.
She explained that the importance of timely and accurate medical diagnostics to ensure safe and healthy pregnancy could not be overstated and that SafeStart Project seeks to bring Mobile ultrasound services directly to expectant mothers, improving early detection of complications and enhancing maternal and infant health outcomes.
Emphasizing on economic emancipation for women, she advised the adolescent to take their education seriously as it opened the door to better paying jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities for women and girls,
They are better able to enter the workforce, thereby contributing to economic growth and reducing gender-based income disparities.
Delivering a solidarity message on behalf of the MCD, Madam Najaha Mumuni from the Social Welfare Department, highlighting on the significance of the celebrations, encouraged all adolescent to be bold and confident and face challenges with the needed urgency.
She urged them to utilize every opportunity either big or small, as it would contribute to their development.
She also reminded them that they were God’s masterpiece and capable of great things, as such, whenever they fall along the way, they should get up, shake off the dust and Accelerate Action.
In the Health Screening exercise, some pregnant women and adolescent girls were screened for breast cancer, diabetes, and hypertensions, among others.
GNA