From right: Dolapo Ogundimu, former MD of Access Bank Ghana, Otiko Djaba, Ifeanyi Njoku and other officials at the launch
Access Bank Ghana has launched an obstetric fistula campaign dubbed ‘Fist Against Fistula’ to help treat women and also create awareness about the condition among women in Ghana.
Launched by the Minister for Gender, Children & Social Protection, Otiko Djaba, the campaign will see Access Bank provide free surgeries for 100 women throughout the country, in partnership with Kaysens Gaisie Limited, Mercy Women’s Catholic Hospital, UNFPA, as well as the Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ministry of Gender, Children & Social Protection.
About two million women are currently living with the obstetric fistula condition around the globe, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has indicated.
Available statistics by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) indicates that over 1,300 obstetric fistula cases are recorded annually in Ghana.
Speaking at the launch, Managing Director of Access Bank, Ifeanyi Njoku, explained that Access Bank is embarking on this campaign because the statistics surrounding the disease in Ghana are very alarming.
“As a leading bank in Africa, we would like to be a relevant stakeholder, an active partner and contributor in the fight against obstetric fistula to eradicate the condition not just in Ghana but in Africa,” he said.
Mr Njoku called on Ghanaians to embrace the campaign to intensify public education to save women.
Otiko Djaba commended Access Bank for launching this initiative that seeks to restore the dignity, happiness and hope of marginalised women.
She, therefore, challenged all citizens to play a role in helping women who are suffering from this illness.