Access Bank Ghana PLC has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the eradication of obstetric fistula, a debilitating condition affecting thousands of women across Ghana.
Charity Ahadzie, Team Lead for Women Banking at Access Bank Ghana PLC, emphasized the bank’s dedication to empowering women and promoting their health and well-being.
Speaking at the 2024 International Day to End Obstetric Fistula commemoration at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Accra, Ahadzie emphasized the bank’s belief in women’s empowerment and its commitment to supporting health initiatives that benefit women.
“At Access Bank, we believe in women’s empowerment. We believe that women are the bedrock of society, and once they are empowered, their families will be better, and they will be better themselves, which will impact the society we live in. So we are on this because we believe that the health of women is very important to us. Once we support this, and the woman that we say that we believe in is okay, the whole society will be okay,” Ahadzie said.
Access Bank Ghana PLC has been supporting the fight against obstetric fistula since 2018, and has already helped 200 women undergo repair surgeries. The bank aims to support an additional 200 cases by the end of the year, in partnership with UNFPA and Chango.
“We will continue to support the fight for Fistula in partnership with UNFPA. That’s why we have joined them. And we are looking at solving 200 cases by the end of the year. And then we also have a partnership with Chango, so that we will be able to have some crowdfunding to support this initiative,” Ahadzie revealed.
The bank’s initiative, the W I nitiative, focuses on empowering women through various pillars, including health. Ahadzie emphasized that the bank’s support goes beyond financial assistance, as it is committed to the well-being of women and their families.
Further speaking at the commemoration, the First Lady of the Republic of Ghana, Her Excellency Rebecca Akufo-Addo, emphasized the need for collective action to address the healthcare gaps that prevent women and girls from reaching their full potential for health and well-being.
She highlighted the importance of developing resilient health systems to address the challenges that prevent safe reproductive health outcomes and acknowledged Ghana’s successes in developing efficient health systems, but stressed that more needs to be done to address the remaining challenges.
The First Lady further expressed optimism about the permanent treatment of obstetric fistula through surgery and praised the Partnership to End Fistula In Ghana (PEFIG), which has enabled the correction of 50 cases last year, compared to the 8–10 reports done annually in the past.
She urged other corporate organizations to join the partnership for increased impact and announced that her office has already committed to 20 fistula repairs under the partnership.
“We must address the barriers to healthcare that affect women and girls, who will make the ultimate sacrifice of producing the next generation. By being here, we are all affirming our commitment to resolve the challenges that we still have in Ghana,” the First Lady said.
Access Bank Ghana PLC’s dedication to eradicating obstetric fistula alongside other partners demonstrates its commitment to improving the lives of women and their families. By supporting prevention and treatment efforts, the bank is helping to break the cycle of this debilitating condition and promote a healthier, more empowered society.
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Story by: Kelly Adjetey Boye | univers.ug.edu.gh
