The International Child Development Program (ICDP) Ghana launched the SafeStart Program at Kitase in the Akwapim South Municipality on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.
This initiative, in partnership with Ultrasound Consulting International (UCI) USA and in collaboration with Ghana Health Services, introduces Portable Ultrasound Machines to rural communities to improve healthcare access and reduce preventable maternal deaths in Ghana-West Africa through diagnostic medical sonography.
The program aims to enhance maternal health and contribute to Ghana’s achievement of SDG 3.
Madam Emily Amponsah, the Municipal Director of Ghana Health Services, expressed profound appreciation to Ultrasound Consulting LLC of Florida for donating a portable ultrasound machine to support the health needs of pregnant mothers in the municipality.
She emphasized that the machine symbolized hope, empowerment, and the promise of healthier futures for rural mothers and their unborn babies.
Madam Joyce Larnyoh, Country Director of ICDP Ghana, reiterated that the acquisition of the Portable Ultrasound machine demonstrated a profound commitment to the well-being and dignity of every mother and child.
She highlighted the importance of ultrasound scans in monitoring pregnancies throughout the nine months, noting that the lack of access to such scans could lead to adverse outcomes that could otherwise be managed with early diagnosis.
Community members expressed their joy at having access to such a device close to their doorsteps at significantly reduced rates, eliminating the need to commute to district hospitals for similar services.
The program, currently piloted in the Akwapim-South Municipality, is set to be extended to all regions in Ghana over the next five years.