Regional health fair opened in Wa

As part of efforts to strengthen health literacy and improve access to healthcare services while empowering individuals and families to utilize essential health services to communities, a regional health fair christened, "Good Life Health Fair," has been launched in Wa in the Upper West Region.

Organized by Norsaac, in collaboration with the Health Promotion division of the Ghana Health Service, the 3-day health fair which took off on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, is set to facilitate connections with local health providers through practical demonstrations on using healthcare commodities and accessing services to improve health status.

Themed: "Promoting Good Health through Positive Health Behaviours,” the health fair will undertake activities such as featuring different stands; general health screening; general health talks; nutrition and food demonstrations; and personal and environmental hygiene demonstrations.

Speaking at the launch, the Upper West Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Damien Punguyire, while regretting how some people take their health for granted, emphasized the need for people to pay keen interest in taking care of their well-being.

"It is important that we take a moment to reflect on the importance of health in our lives. In a rapidly evolving world, it is very common to push issues of health and well-being to the backbench in pursuit of economic/social advancement, yet good health is an important ingredient for socio-economic progress. For example, a mother would prefer to go to the market to sell or to the farm instead of spending one day taking the child for vaccination and weighing, which would have protected the child from falling sick. However, when this child is taken ill, it will take more days to care for him/her in addition to the family income, which will be sacrificed."

"Health-seeking has largely been neglected due to an inadequate understanding of the intricate relationship between good health and the socioeconomic empowerment of individuals and families," he lamented.

Elaborating on the goals of the fair, he said, "The primary objective of this health fair is to generate demand for essential health services and products and to foster measurable behaviour change. The health fair aims to address critical health issues by providing practical demonstrations, education, and access to a range of health services. Whether it is through understanding how to use Long-Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets, learning about balanced nutrition with locally available foods, or receiving guidance on effective WASH practices, this fair is designed to offer valuable insights and hands-on support to participants."

Calling on the general public to take advantage of the fair of what it has to offer, he indicated the event will engage in various activities designed to empower the public with the knowledge and resources necessary to enable them to take charge of their own health.

Dr. Damien noted that participants also stand the chance to benefit from a series of educational sessions and practical demonstrations at the event ranging from malaria prevention, family planning, nutrition, and maternal as well as child health, with each session designed to address the specific needs of the community.

According to him, the health fair is inclusive-driven with provisions for all ages, adding that the dedicated health professionals at the fair are there to provide participants with valuable information and are ready to answer questions from participants.

"We are committed to ensuring that this health fair is inclusive and accessible to all. We have made provisions to accommodate individuals with disabilities and have implemented strict safeguards to ensure a respectful and supportive environment for everyone," the Regional Director of Health Services emphasized.

Health fairs have been identified as effective tools for delivering health services and information to communities, especially those in rural areas.