The Upper East Region has hosted its inaugural edition of the GoodLife Health Fair, aimed at promoting health and wellness among the public. Organized by the Upper East Regional Health Directorate in collaboration with Northern Sector Action on Awareness Centre (NORSAAC), a consortium partner under the USAID Accelerating Social and Behavior Change (ASBC) Activity, the three-day fair focused on encouraging behavior change and improving access to essential healthcare services.
Dr. Samuel K. Boakye-Boateng, Regional Health Director emphasized the critical role of behavior change in healthcare provision and called on stakeholders and partners to support efforts in this area.
“The ASBC project, as is commonly known, aims at contributing to an increase in sustained adoption of health behaviors and practices, including timely use of health services and products. Focus areas for this particular project include maternal, newborn, and child health, sexual and productive health, nutrition, malaria, vaccination, water sanitation, and hygiene,” Dr. Freeman Samson Samani, Deputy Director of Public Health at the Upper East Regional Health Directorate, delivered a speech on behalf of the director.
The GoodLife Health Fairs are designed to improve community access to healthcare services and promote healthy behaviors through practical demonstrations. Under the theme “Promoting Good Health Through Uptake of Positive Health Behaviours,” the fair provided free health screenings and services covering malaria, nutrition, family planning, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), maternal and neonatal child health (MNCH), child marriage, and public health emergencies.
Hajia Hafsatu Sey Sumani, Head of Programs, Policy, and Influencing at NORSAAC, indicated the program’s expansion. According to her, the program was initially implemented in 17 districts across Northern Ghana, but it has now been extended to the Savannah and Western regions. “This initiative, which started in 2022, has expanded beyond its initial four districts in the Upper East Region and will cover all districts in the region by the fourth and fifth years of the program,” she explained.
Hajia Sumani further expressed optimism about the collaboration with the Ghana Health Service (GHS), adding that the program’s community engagement for health and well-being model is building on existing health structures. She urged the public to prioritize their health to ensure a more productive society.
Gladys Gbadagbali from the Health Promotion Division of the GHS, national, expressed her gratitude to all partners involved, particularly NORSAAC, for their relentless work in making the health fair a reality. She encouraged community members to take full advantage of the fair, stating, “Let us explore and participate in what this health fair has to offer to build healthier, stronger, and more resilient communities.”
The Upper East Regional Minister, Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih, in a speech read on his behalf by Ms. Yvonne Wonchua, Gender Desk Officer at the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council, raised concerns about substance abuse among the youth in the region. He noted that excessive alcohol consumption and drug abuse were contributing to a rise in liver cirrhosis, kidney disorders, and road accidents.
“I want to make a passionate appeal to the youth to abstain from these harmful behaviors. These habits not only harm your health but also negatively affect the quality of life,” the Regional Minister stated.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah|Bolgatanga
