Esther Lartey receiving her gift from First Lady Rebecca Akufo-AddoR
Market women and street vendors within Accra and its environs have been educated on the causes and prevention of kidney disease.
The women were also sensitised on the symptoms of kidney disease and the need to regularly visit the hospital and have their sugar and blood pressure tests done.
Dr. Emily Martha Naa Shomey Nortey, who gave the talk, revealed that diabetes and hypertension are the major contributing factors to one getting kidney failure.
She said it was, therefore, important for women who are the homemakers to regularly guard against getting the disease which can be debilitating.
“We need to have regular test for our sugar and blood pressure and not wait till we are sick before we have those checks done,” she reiterated.
She was speaking at the ‘Terema Initiative’ of The Rebecca Foundation event to herald the marking of this year’s International Women’s Day celebration to be climaxed on March, 8, 2019.
First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo, who spoke to the about 100 women from 20 markets and major street vending points within the Greater Accra Region, encouraged the women to be the best in their field.
She used the occasion to acknowledge and bring to the fore the important role Ghanaian market or small scale business women play in national development.
Mrs. Akufo-Addo further disclosed that government was working to ensure they have a better place to trade, adding that some of the women have already begun benefitting from the MASLOC loans.
“We have started doing some and by the grace of God my husband the president will do what he promised,” she said.
In all, 20 women, mostly street hawkers made up of sachet water sellers, plantain chips hawkers and assorted items within the region, benefitted from small tools, equipment and small grants to boost their businesses and incomes.
The women expressed gratitude at the gesture and the opportunity to interact with the nation’s mother, ministers and key policymakers.
Esther Lartey, a sachet water and beverage seller who received a deep freezer, was full of praises for the first lady. She averred that with the freezer she can save more money to cater for her five children.
The first lady is also scheduled to meet with medium to big business owners to discuss how female business leaders can help other women to succeed in business.
She will also hold an awards ceremony to honour women and advocate policy changes that take into account gender mainstreaming in policies that affect private enterprise development.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri