First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo receiving a citation for her efforts as ‘Merck More Than A Mother’ Ambassador
First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo has taken a stand against the culture of stigmatizing women who are unable to get pregnant and give birth.
She stated that fertility is a shared responsibility and, therefore, women alone should not be blamed or discriminated against when the opposite happens.
“We must stop the practice where women are blamed for infertility although half the time, infertility is due to the men. We need to encourage men to discuss their infertility and know that fertility is a shared responsibility,” she said.
Mrs. Akufo-Addo observed that the prevalence of infertility in developing countries is high, as one in every four couples suffers infertility.
“What disturbed me most was that majority of infertility cases are due to infectious diseases such as sexually transmitted diseases, genital mutilation, unsafe abortion and unsafe delivery.
These are mostly preventable. I am, therefore, pleased that the main objective of the ‘Merck More Than A Mother’ campaign is prevention,” she said.
The first lady was speaking at the launch of the Merck Foundation’s flagship programme ‘Merck More Than A Mother’ campaign in Ghana.
The campaign will not only provide medical education and training for healthcare providers and embryologists but it will also support governments to define policies to improve access to awareness and safe, effective and regulate fertility care.
It will also address the need for interventions to reduce stigmatization and social suffering of infertile women and the need for a team approach to family building among couples.
Merck Foundation CEO, Dr. Rasha Kelej, underscored her organisation’s commitment to building healthcare capacity in the country.
Merck Foundation, between 2017 and 2018, has provided scholarships to five doctors from Ghana to undertake a one-year Diploma in Diabetes & Cardiovascular Preventive Medicines in the UK, as well as provided a one-year and two years Oncology Fellowship and Masters Degree for Ghanaian doctors to study at Tata Memorial Hospital in India and Cairo University in Egypt.
“We have also underscored our long-term partnership with the Rebecca Foundation and Ministry of Health of Ghana to continue building healthcare capacity … Our aim is to improve the health and well-being of people on the continent,” Dr. Kelej emphasized.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri