On Tuesday, August 19, 2014, the MamaYe Advocacy Coalition partnered the Universal Access to Healthcare Campaign to present a 10-Action Point document to the leadership of the Ministry of Health.
On Tuesday, August 19, 2014, the MamaYe Advocacy Coalition partnered the Universal Access to Healthcare Campaign to present a 10-Action Point document to the leadership of the Ministry of Health. This was after over 200 men and women had paraded the main streets of Accra to communicate a simple but urgent message of displeasure at Ghana’s current position in meeting MDGs 4, 5 and 6.The marchers, clad in MamaYe branded T-Shirts brandished placards directed at anyone who cared to read.“Over 20,000 newborns die every year in Ghana. Act Now to save our babies”, “Simple interventions can save our mothers, Mr. President”, “Time to speak up – we need health facilities”, “Midwives save lives, train more” among others were the bold inscriptions the placards carried.Meticulously guided by 50 officers and men of the Ghana Police Service, the marchers started the procession from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle through the Adabraka Police Station. Amidst drumming and dancing, they slowed down vehicular traffic as they shared leaflets to motorists and pedestrians alike.Kwame Ansah, a 24 year-old final year student who participated in the march said: “Sometimes we think these issues are remote and not close to us because we are in Accra and have the best facilities. The truth is, everyone is affected however removed you are from it. The louder we cry, the more effective our voices and the government must hear us.”62-year-old pensioner, Maame Gloria who is and activist for the Universal Access to Healthcare Campaign was delighted to be part of the march. She said despite being advanced in age, she is convinced that participating in such public activities are necessary to wake a slumbering government. “I am here; the young lady is also here. Everyone is here. This is the kind of united front we need to improve our conditions.”After the nearly three kilometer march through the busy streets of Accra, the demonstrators converged at the Hearts of Oak Park behind the Arts Centre. At this point, two members of the MamaYe Advocacy Coalition and the Universal Access to Healthcare Campaign laid a symbolic wreath to commemorate the 500th day to the end of the MDGs and to mark the end of all preventable maternal and newborn deaths in Ghana.Officials of the Health Ministry led by the Chief Director, Madam Salamatu Abdul-Salam, were magnanimous enough to show up on time to receive the 10-Action Point document on behalf of the minister.Click here to read the 10-Action-Point documentThe Minister had a message for us:“I urge you all to use your good platform to advocate for the women to use the available healthcare services at the right time while the Ministry works at addressing the second and third delays… We need all hands on deck in order to achieve the health related MDGsRead the Minister’s speech here.Well, the campaign continues. The marchers made their point and the ministry had their say. As one policeman said: “Talk is cheap. If you want real progress, don’t stop here. Keep pushing till the door falls before you.”