Unexpected miracle: vodafone's ultrasound programme delivers more than expected

Her decision turned out to be well-timed.

“When I got to the health centre, I was registered and given a sheet and number,” Dora said. “The midwives gave education on the four-star diets. I was then ushered into the scan room where I had my scan done. I saw my baby, and the report was given to me. We were also given snacks.” which aims to make the benets of digital society accessible to all. The provision of free ultrasounds is a step towards addressing the needs of pregnant, underserved women while harnessing the power of portable, life-saving technology.

In rural communities across Ghana, expectant mothers struggle to access a ordable and convenient prenatal care, increasing the risk of maternal and newborn deaths. Dora Manwuro, a 29-year-old mother of three, knows this all too well.

Living in Amanase, a remote village in the Ayensuano District of the Eastern Region, Dora had been paying GHC30 for every ultrasound scan during her pregnancy and had to travel to Suhum or Asuboi for the service. Many expectant mothers across Ghana face similar healthcare challenges.

However, an initiative by the Vodafone Ghana Foundation has been changing the game since 2015. Through the Rural Ultrasound Scan Programme, pregnant women in remote villages across the country can access free mobile ultrasound services. To date, the programme has helped provide free ultrasound scans to over 20,000 pregnant women.

Dora became intrigued when she heard through her community’s information centre that the programme would provide free ultrasound scan services for pregnant women in her community, and she decided to take part.

However, just minutes after receiving her scan, Dora began experiencing cramps in her abdomen. The midwives who were present quickly assessed her and said labour had started. They rushed her to the ward where, shortly after, she gave birth to a bouncing baby boy.

“It was like a miracle to me,” Dora says. “If not for the scan programme, I would have had to pay for transportation to the clinic, and I may have arrived late because my husband was not around.”

“They gave me all the necessary support during the programme, and I heard this was the rst time this has happened during a scan service by Vodafone,” she said happily.

This initiative is also in line with Vodafone Ghana’s “Inclusion for All” purpose pillar,

Patricia Obo-Nai, CEO of Vodafone Ghana, emphasised the importance of partnerships in accelerating access to digital healthcare in Ghana, saying, “We believe that no woman should die during childbirth, and we are committed to leveraging technology to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality rates in Ghana.”

For Dora, the Rural Ultrasound Scan programme has had a signi cant impact on her life, and she recommends it to all pregnant women. “The services are free, and the sta are friendly as well,” she said. “You get answers to all your questions and get snacks after the programme.”

With initiatives like the Rural Ultrasound Scan programme, Vodafone Ghana is taking important steps to address the healthcare challenges facing underserved communities in Ghana and ensure that no mother or child is left behind.

Appiatse Support Fund bags GH ¢62million as GOIL donates

Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee, the Chairman of the Appiatse Support Fund, has disclosed that so far, the fund has received an amount of GH ¢62million as donations from various institutions, organisations and individuals all in support of the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Appiatse township which was razed by re explosion early last year.

The Chairman revealed this when she received a GH ¢200,000 cheque donation from Goil on Monday, 20th March, 2023, as their contribution towards the reconstruction of Appiatse.

Madam Joyce Aryee explained that aside contributions received from various organisations, Maxam Company, the

Story continued from page 8 mining rm implicated in the accident, has also been consistent in paying their ne and that she noted has contributed to the GH ¢62million amount raised.

On behalf of her team and the people of Appiatse, she expressed their profound gratitude to Goil for such a generous donation saying that this will go a long way to help them do timely payments to contractors and hoped that their gesture of love will be the launch of a second wave of donations from institutions that are yet to donate to the fund, as she opined that more money is needed to complete the entire project.

Rev. Joyce Aryee outlined a number of challenges contractors face at the site, particular among them she mentioned to be the consistent rainfall in the area, which slows down progress but Madam Joyce was hopeful that by September, most of the buildings would have been fully completed for the residents to move in.

The Managing Director of Goil, Mr. Kwame Osei-Prempeh in his remarks said having heard of the unfortunate incident that happened in Appiatse, Goil as a socially responsible corporate entity, decided to also join the frail and contribute towards the reconstruction of the model green community.

He however explained why their donation to the Fund seems to have delayed, saying that the institution issued a cheque when the incident occurred last year but was not able to deliver it on time but "better late than never," he added.

The MD also mentioned that Goil at the initial stages of the incident made some donations to Appiatse directly even before the fund was instituted while he applauded the e orts of Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee and her team for the good work being done for the people of Appiatse and humanity.