GENDER and women’s rights advocates have called for increased attention to women’s sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in order to improve their overall wellbeing.

In separate statements to mark International Women’s Day (IWD), the experts stressed that sexual and reproductive health remained a vital component of women’s total health and must be prioritised to ensure better access to quality care.

The Country Director of MSI Reproductive Choices, Demi Priscilla Letsa, speaking at a high-level panel discussion to commemorate the day, said challenges such as limited access to SRH services, disparities in service delivery and the uneven distribution of specialists across the country continued to affect the quality of care available to women.

According to her, the shortage of trained health professionals, including obstetricians, gynaecologists and midwives skilled in providing long-acting contraceptive services, remains a major challenge within the health system.

“There are not enough obstetricians, gynaecologists and even midwives who are appropriately trained to offer long-acting contraceptive methods. On an occasion like this, we want to highlight these issues so that as a country we can take deliberate steps to address them,” she stated.

Dr Letsa called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to strengthen reproductive health services nationwide.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Merck Foundation, Rasha Kelej, reaffirmed her organisation’s commitment to empowering women and girls through various development programmes.

“At Merck Foundation, empowering women and girls is not confined to a single day; rather it is embedded in everything we do. It shapes our vision and guides our programmes,” she said.

Dr Kelej encouraged women to pursue their ambitions and contribute meaningfully to society.

This year’s IWD observed on the theme: ‘Rights. Justice. Action: For All Women and Girls,’ highlights the need to advance gender equality and protect the rights of women and girls worldwide

By Abigail Annoh

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THE growing popularity of digital and online lottery platforms is steadily undermining the livelihoods of traditional lottery vendors in Accra, many of whom say the change has not only reduced their income but also affected their family lives.

Several vendors, commonly known as ‘lotto writers,’ say the shift to mobile and online lottery systems has significantly reduced the number of customers who visit their kiosks to stake games.

Some say the financial strain has become so severe that it has created tension in their homes, with a few even losing their marriages because they can no longer provide for their families as they once did.

Others indicated that they were now searching for additional jobs to supplement their lottery business to meet their household responsibilities.

The vendors, operating in areas such as Shukura, Tema Station, Laterbiokorshie, Mamprobi and the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange area, shared their experiences in separate interviews with The Spectator.

Mr Michael Addy, a lotto writer for 15 years and father of four, said business had declined sharply in recent years.

According to him, he previously earned about GH¢3,000 from ticket sales and commissions after paying winning customers, but his earnings have now dropped to less than GH¢1,000.

“Although I have been able to see my children through the basic level, Senior High School and the university, there is a lot of responsibility on me as my wife left me because I am unable to earn enough to take care of the family. I wish I could find another job in addition to this lotto business but I no longer have the strength to do any hard work,” he lamented.

Another vendor, Mr Thomas Nimo, who has spent more than 20 years in the trade, recalled when customers used to gather around his kiosk early in the day, waiting for him to open so they could stake their numbers.

Today, however, he says the ‘crowd’ has disappeared.

“Only a few people who are not technological inclined come to buy tickets because they cannot play the lottery game on their phones,” he explained.

Mr Nimo added that some winners occasionally show appreciation by giving vendors a token of their winnings.

“At times some of the customers who we pay for winning the lottery game sometimes gives us a small amount as a sign of appreciation for being truthful to them,” he noted.

For Mr Alfred Nii Lartey, who has operated in Laterbiokorshie for 10 years, the business has simply become a means of survival while he searches for a better opportunity.

He also raised concerns about unlicensed private lottery operators whom some vendors unknowingly work for. When such operators are pursued by the National Lottery Authority (NLA) for breaches such as failure to pay Value Added Tax (VAT), vendors working under them often suffer the consequences.

Mr James Ankamah, a vendor at Tema Station, admitted that the decline in customers sometimes puts pressure on operators.

“Sometimes I am tempted to sell tickets to students because people don’t come to us to buy tickets and play the game,” he said.

Despite the challenges, some vendors believe their services still have a place. Mr Frank Baafi explained that unstable internet connections occasionally force players to return to the kiosks.

He added that trust also keeps some loyal customers coming back, confident that their winnings will be paid promptly.

By Benjamin Arcton –Tettey

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