By Samira Larbie, GNA
Accra, July 29, GNA -Access Bank Ghana PLC has renewed its partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to strengthen efforts to eliminate obstetric fistula through treatment, advocacy and public awareness.
The renewed agreement under the Partnership to End Obstetric Fistula in Ghana also seeks to mobilise sustainable funding and expand support for women living with the childbirth injury.
The agreement was signed at a ceremony in Accra, where Mr Eugene Ocansey, Executive Director for Retail and SME Banking, speaking on behalf of the Managing Director of Access Bank Ghana PLC, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to improving women’s health and dignity.
Mr Ocansey said the initiative remained significant to the Bank, particularly under its first female Managing Director, in line with its focus on women’s empowerment and inclusive banking.
“It means a lot to us as a bank that takes women banking very seriously. We cannot champion women’s empowerment while overlooking a segment of society that remains marginalized and underserved,” he said.
Mr Ocansey said Access Bank had championed the “Fist Against Fistula” campaign since 2018, supporting corrective surgeries, advocacy and fundraising while working with surgeons, nurses, advocates and development partners.
“This initiative was born out of the passion of our own staff who asked what more we could do for women left behind by a condition that is entirely preventable and, in most cases, completely treatable,” he said.
Mr Ocansey announced the establishment of the Fistula Trust Fund to provide a transparent and sustainable platform for individuals and organisations to support women requiring treatment.
He also announced a digital donation platform, developed in partnership with the Chango App, to enable members of the public to contribute to the initiative through a mobile short code.
Mr Ocansey said more than 300 women had undergone corrective surgery through the initiative since its inception.
“The agreement we have signed today is not a ceremonial formality. It is a structural commitment built on transparency, accountability and quality care for every woman we serve,” he said.
Mr Ocansey called on government, corporate organisations, the Ghanaian diaspora and individuals to support the initiative, saying no single institution could eliminate Ghana’s obstetric fistula backlog alone.
Dr Emmily Naphambo, Deputy Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), commended Access Bank Ghana for sustaining its commitment to the campaign and supporting women living with obstetric fistula.
She described obstetric fistula as a childbirth-related injury with serious health, social and economic consequences for affected women.
“Many people still do not know that women continue to live with this condition. Obstetric fistula is simply a birth-related defect whose effects go far beyond personal hygiene to the dignity of the affected woman,” she said.
Dr Naphambo said available studies estimated that between 700 and 1,200 women developed obstetric fistula annually in Ghana, in addition to thousands living with untreated cases.
She said many affected women either did not know treatment was available or could not access surgery because of financial and geographical barriers.
“UNFPA cannot do it alone, and the Government of Ghana cannot do it alone. That is why the private sector is such an important partner in ensuring that these women receive the support they deserve,” she said.
Dr Naphambo said women living with obstetric fistula often experienced social stigma, economic exclusion and family breakdown because of the condition.
She said successful corrective surgery restored women’s health and enabled them to reintegrate into their families and communities.
“For every woman we successfully repair, we are returning her to society as a productive member of the economy. Human capital development cannot be achieved while a section of society remains invisible and left behind,” she said.
Dr Naphambo said partners currently supported about 200 corrective surgeries annually and aimed to repair about 4,280 cases by 2030.
She said the long-term objective was to integrate fistula repair into routine healthcare delivery to improve access to treatment throughout the year.
Dr Naphambo appealed to more financial institutions and private sector organisations to support the national effort to eliminate obstetric fistula in Ghana.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Samira Larbie