Vanessa Gyan
TV personality Vanessa Gyan has received a philanthropy and non-profit award at this year’s edition of the 40 Under 40 Achiever 2020 Awards night held at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra on Friday.
She won the award courtesy her philanthropic works via her Sincerely Vee Foundation.
Three years ago, Vanessa launched ‘The Post Pregnancy Boujie Express’, a maternal health awareness initiative under the foundation. As part of that initiative, she dedicated her time and passion to offering mothers pre/postnatal education and support for free.
She has also impacted the lives of thousands of mothers with her mass baby shower and seminars.
In a statement, she was full of thanks to God and organisers of the awards ceremony.
“First and foremost, I have to thank God for continuing to be so faithful in my life. To the 40 Under 40 team, thank you for recognising my efforts in raising maternal health awareness in such a unique way and, of course, to those who took the time to vote, I thank you for your loyal support,” she said.
“I’m always asked why? Why maternal health? Why ‘The Post Pregnancy Boujie Express’? Becoming a mom opened my eyes to another world. I love Ghana. Ghana is home but there are so many gaps in our healthcare system. So many gaps in our maternal healthcare system and I just knew I had to do something in my own way to fill those gaps however I can,” she added.
“The bi-yearly ‘The Post Pregnancy Boujie Express’ educates, supports and celebrates mothers for free. In the five successful events; three at Ridge Hospital, one at Achimota, one at Korle-Bu) thus far since its birth in December of 2017, we’ve discharged a handful of patients, had a team of health professionals and women from various sectors educating expectant and postpartum mothers on the importance of pre/postnatal care, CPR, breastfeeding, family planning, saving and more. ‘The Post Pregnancy Boujie Express’ has also donated various mommy and baby necessities such as diapers, wipes, sanitary pads, hospital bed mats, clothes and more to low-income patients,” she said.