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‘Equip polyclinic theatres to improve antenatal care’
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A philanthropist and antenatal care (ANC) advocate, Mrs Safia Ayivor, has called on the government, private organisations and individuals to prioritise the provision of anaesthesia machines and surgical packs for polyclinic theatres to improve Antenatal Care (ANC) services across the country.
According to her, equipping polyclinics with such critical medical facilities would help save the lives of mothers and babies, particularly in emergency situations where timely surgical intervention would be required.
“If a polyclinic can safely perform a Cesarean section (C-section), it relieves massive pressure on teaching hospitals and saves precious time for the mother,” she stated.
Mrs Ayivor made the remarks after recently donating toiletries, diapers and other essential items worth thousands of Ghana cedis to new mothers and expectant women at the Ashaiman Municipal Hospital in the Greater Accra Region.
The donation, which formed part of activities marking her 40th birthday celebration, was aimed at supporting mothers, especially those from deprived backgrounds, in caring for their newborns.
Joined by family and friends, Mrs Ayivor and her team presented the items to about 50 mothers and pregnant women to support them during the early stages of childcare and motherhood.
She noted that improving maternal healthcare delivery in Ghana requires a shift from crisis management to building a resilient healthcare system capable of handling emergencies effectively.
“Donations act as a vital bandage, but equipping polyclinics to handle emergencies on-site is what will ultimately save lives,” she stressed.
Mrs Ayivor and her team also interacted with nurses and caregivers at the facility to explore additional ways of supporting the polyclinic in the future.
Highlighting some of the challenges confronting ANC units and maternity wards, she pointed to severe space constraints, explaining that many facilities were frequently overwhelmed by the high number of patients.
According to her, the limited space results in long waiting times for pregnant women, while overcrowded wards place enormous pressure on frontline midwives and nurses.
“This operational pressure stretches frontline midwives and nurses to their absolute limits,” she stated.
Mrs Ayivor further called on benevolent organisations and individuals to support healthcare facilities by investing in critical infrastructure rather than focusing solely on consumable items.
“Donations should not just be about consumables, individuals and organisations must also target critical infrastructure to improve healthcare delivery,” she added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
The 29th Annual Dagaaba-Frafra Friendly Games have once again demonstrated that sports can be a powerful vehicle for cultural preservation, business networking, friendship and peaceful coexistence.
Held at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra last Saturday, the games brought together members of the two ethnic groups from across Ghana and abroad for a colourful celebration under the theme, “Unity in Diversity: The Dagaaba-Frafra Model for Peaceful Co-existence.”
The event, which has evolved from a friendly football match into a major annual gathering, featured football, volleyball, sack races, lime and spoon, tug-of-peace and a penalty shootout for senior citizens.
At the end of the competitions, the Frafra won four events, while the Dagaaba secured victories in five, with the men’s soccer match ending in a draw.
The Frafra triumphed in the men’s lime and spoon, men’s sack race, women’s sack race and women’s soccer, while the Dagaaba won the women’s lime and spoon, men’s volleyball, women’s volleyball, women’s tug-of-peace and the senior citizens’ penalty shootout.
However, the games extended far beyond the sporting arena. The stadium grounds and surrounding spaces became a vibrant marketplace, with patrons enjoying and purchasing a variety of traditional foods, drinks and cultural products.
Local delicacies, including TZ, tubaani, bambara beans, pork, guinea fowl, local fowls, dog meat and kosie, were sold alongside traditional alcoholic beverages. Traditional dresses and other culturally inspired items also attracted buyers, turning the gathering into an important platform for small businesses and vendors to make sales while promoting northern Ghanaian culture.
The cultural exchange continued long after the final sporting contests, as patrons remained at the venue to eat, drink, socialise, dance and party well into the night.
In her remarks, the Guest of Honour, Dr Matilda Aberese-Ako, said the gathering represented much more than competition, describing the Dagaaba-Frafra relationship as a historic bond that had evolved into a modern sporting tradition and an instrument for peace.
MTN Ghana has been the headline sponsor for the games for the past 10 years.
By Gordon Wellu
By Gordon Wellu
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MTN Ghana has undertaken a tree-planting exercise at the Chipa Forest Reserve as part of its commitment to protecting the planet and support the restoration of degraded sections of the forest.
The activity forms part of the company’s 2026 Sustainability Month celebration held under the theme “Small Actions: Big Impact,” and its 30th anniversary celebration.
It was held in partnership with the Forestry Commission (FC) and the Rainforest Alliance with MTN Ghana supporting the restoration of approximately two hectares of degraded forest through the planting of 1,666 trees.
Due to the current dry weather conditions, 833 trees were planted during the exercise, with the remaining 833 to be planted when the rain commences.
The exercise brought together MTN employee volunteers, officials from the Forestry Commission and representatives of the Rainforest Alliance, demonstrating the importance of collaboration in driving environmental sustainability.
Speaking at the event, the Acting General Manager for Sustainability and Shared Value at MTN Ghana, Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, emphasized the critical role trees play in sustaining life and protecting the environment.
“Trees are essential to human survival and healthy ecosystems. They absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, regulate temperatures, protect soil, support biodiversity and provide habitats for many species. They also conserve water, reduce erosion and help communities adapt to the effects of climate change,” she said.
The District Manager of the Tema-Ada Forest Services Division of the Forestry Commission, Linda Ansah, welcomed MTN Ghana’s support, describing it as a valuable contribution to efforts aimed at restoring degraded sections of the reserve.
The Country Director of the Rainforest Alliance, Nicholas Jengri, also welcomed the partnership and emphasised the importance of collective action in addressing environmental challenges.
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