Vodafone Ghana said its Healthline TV show is helping lots of Ghanaians and also yielding benefits to the company in the form of increased patronage of Vodafone services and products. A statement from the company said since Healthline was launched on June 26, 2011, there has been a significant increase in SIM registration and persons porting their numbers to Vodafone from other networks. Vodafone Healthline is a TV show designed to empower Ghanaians by improving the dissemination of information on common health issues in Ghana and also sponsor needy persons to get access to quality healthcare. The statement said since its launch, the show had brought credible and reliable health information into many homes nationwide and saved lives across the nation by sponsoring the treatment of many patients in need of urgent medical care but could not afford it. “Several Ghanaians, particularly the patients featured on the show, have expressed their satisfaction and gratitude to Vodafone for these initiatives,” it said. It said the maiden episode featured Theresa, a native from Dadwen near Axim in the Western Region, whose motor skills were severely impeded as a result of severe fistula resulting from a difficult child birth. “Theresa’s family could not afford the corrective surgery needed for her convalescence and Vodafone stepped in to sponsor her treatment at the Battor Catholic Hospital in the Volta Region,” it said. "The success we have achieved so far with Healthline is immeasurable,’ says Carmen Bruce-Annan, Head of Corporate Communications at Vodafone. She said we have achieved so much using one major tool which we believe is our expertise-communication. Through a TV show, not only have we empowered Ghanaians with information about their health, we have also saved lives. The feedback we have received from the various communities featured on Healthline has been wonderful and it is evident from their sentiments that they genuinely appreciate our efforts." Carmen Bruce-Annan said that was a very wonderful feeling especially since we are all about giving back to the community within which we operate. At the end of the day, it’s about the people in those communities and what we’ve been able to do for them.’ Vodafone has also helped 8 year old Esther from Atronie who was diagnosed with a hole in the heart; Vodafone sponsored an open heart surgery to correct her condition. The telecommunications giant has also positively changed the lives of fifteen patients in Bolgatanga by sponsoring their corrective eye surgeries. In Domenase in the Ashanti region, Vodafone paid for the hospital bills of Bismark, a thirteen year old boy who suffered from a condition that prohibited the normal function of his digestive system for several months; Bismark is now healthy and back to school. Yeboah Mawempumor who had been battling with the effects of a venomous snake bite for the past three years also received sponsored treatment for his condition. Natives of his town, Wegbe Kpalime in the Volta region have spoken of their gratitude to Vodafone for their intervention, especially since he is the only male child of his father. Viewers have also been given information about Pregnancy, the Eyes, Pain, Hypertension and Infectious Diseases. Future episodes of Healthline will feature topics on Pediatrics, HIV/AIDS, Mental illness and will continue to help patients around the country who cannot afford much needed medical treatment. Healthline is broadcast on Sundays on Metro TV, Wednesdays on GTV and Thursdays on TV3 at 8.00pm on each day. Source: Adom News/Ghana