Telecel Ghana Foundation has extended its critical maternal healthcare programme for rural communities, known as the Rural Ultrasound Initiative, to the Langa Health Centre in the Northern Region.

About 130 pregnant women from Langa and nine adjoining communities in the Savelugu-Nanton district, including Moglaa, Zaazi, Ligba, Kanshegu, Yizegu, Duko, Tarikpaa and Yilikpani, received ultrasound scans and medical review of their pregnancies.

The Rural Ultrasound initiative, organised by Telecel Ghana Foundation in partnership with Divine Mother and Child (DMaC) Foundation and the Ghana Health Service, provides lifesaving interventions for expectant mothers at different stages of their pregnancies.

During the exercise in Langa, about 24 women representing 18% of the total screened were diagnosed with low haemoglobin levels, a condition that could lead to severe complications during pregnancy and childbirth, if not treated.

Early detection allows expectant women to receive immediate treatment, significantly improving their chances of safer deliveries and healthier babies.

“For many of us women in Langa and environs, accessing ultrasound scans has always been a struggle,” said Abdullai Zabaga, one of the expectant mothers who participated in the screening.

“The only place we can go is Savelugu, which means leaving at 4 a.m. and facing long queues. I am very happy that Telecel Foundation organised this screening in our community because it gave me the chance to know how healthy the baby and I are.”

Healthcare professionals in the community also welcomed the ultrasound intervention since the community clinics in the district do not have the medical technology to screen pregnant women.

“Our pregnant women always travel to Savelugu whenever they need an ultrasound scan,” explained Abukari Abdul Razak, a medical staff member of the Langa Community Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound.

“Having this service available in Langa makes a huge difference in ensuring safer pregnancies.”

The Rural Ultrasound Scan initiative is held bimonthly and targets deprived and remote communities where maternal care remains inaccessible for many.

With the goal of early detection of complications, the initiative directly contributes to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 on Good Health and Well-being, with the key priority being reducing maternal mortality and improving access to essential health services.

Rita Agyeiwaa Rockson, Head of Foundation, Sustainability and External Communications at Telecel Ghana, said, “One of our overarching goals here is to bridge healthcare disparities, especially in underserved areas.

"No mother should be put at risk because she cannot access a simple scan. By bringing healthcare closer to these communities, we are saving lives and creating a more equitable healthcare system.”

Maternal health workers educated the women on prenatal care, nutrition and the importance of regular checkups to help them take charge of their health.

Additionally, Telecel Ghana distributed care packages to pregnant women with essential newborn items to ease their motherhood journey and help prepare them for birth.