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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