Access
Bank Ghana has held a day’s Walkathon across the country to
raise awareness about the prevention and treatment of obstetric fistula.
The
nationwide walk dubbed “Fist against Fistula” is part of the Bank’s campaign to
raise funds for the treatment and prevention of Fistula in the country.
The
10-kilometre walk, brought together over 1,300 guests, partners, customers,
community leaders and employees of the bank.
Welcoming
participants to the walkathon, Managing Director of Access Bank Ghana, Olumide
Olatunji said, “In August, last year, Access Bank launched its campaign to help
treat women affected with the disease and reintegrate them into the society.
“I
am happy to announce to you that our Bank has successfully financed the
treatment of 100 Fistula patients at the Mercy Women’s Catholic Hospital in
Mankessim, a year on,” he said.
He
noted that the time was now right to collaborate with a lot more stakeholders
to enable the Bank intensify the advocacy, help remove the stigma and attract
funds to finance more surgeries for affected women” he concluded.
Head
of Corporate Communications, Nana Adu Kyeremateng noted, “We are using our
award-winning Employee Volunteering Programme (EVP), which gives us a footfall
of more than 1,000 volunteers to garner more support for this initiative.
“Everyone
should really desire the opportunity of being part of the story we are writing
in Ghana’s history to kick out Fistula for good before 2030”.
On
his part, Professor Anyetei Tonyeli Lassey, Chairman of the National Task Team
for the Elimination of Obstetric Fistula, which operates under the Ghana Health
Service, indicated that the growing incidence of obstetric fistula cases in the
country – currently over 1,300 cases annually, was worrying and required a
concerted effort from well-meaning corporate bodies to address the issue.
“We thank Access Bank immensely for spearheading this fight and involving key stakeholders to drive this campaign. I also want to use this opportunity to make a clarion call for more corporate bodies to join in this fight” he concluded.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri
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