As part of its efforts and support for the  reduction of maternal and child mortality, Vodafone Ghana Foundation has partnered Divine Mother and Child Foundation, a Koforidua-based NGO to provide free unltra-sound scanning for pregnant women in the under resourced health facilities in the Eastern Region.

Over 120 residents in underprivileged communities in Ayeuano, Akyemansa, Suhum, and Akwapim South have already benefitted from the free mobile ultrasound scanning which is in support of efforts by the government to achieve the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of reducing the maternal mortality rate by three quarters by the end of this year.

Nana Yaa Ofori-Koree, Head of Vodafone Ghana Foundation and Sustainability, says women in rural areas across Ghana often die due to preventable complications during childbirth, as they have no access to ultrasound screenings to detect critical conditions.

“Vodafone Foundation is making this contribution to ease the burden of pregnant women who travel from villages to queue for ultrasound scan services at district hospitals. This initiative will benefit over 2,000 pregnant women in rural communities to get access to ultrasound service at their door steps.”

She explained that since the foundation’s establishment in 2009, it has delivered socially relevant and impactful healthcare initiatives to various communities and segments of the Ghanaian society.

The President of DMAC Foundation, Edmund Duodu commended Vodafone Ghana foundation for the support and reiterated that the timely provision of the ultra-sound scan machines would help save many lives.

“Pregnant women in the rural areas have to travel on bad roads to the city to queue for the service. There are places where the means of transportation to access health facilities are  a challenge due to  financial constraints. We are glad to be taking the ultra-sound scans to them”, Edmund Duodu said.

In 2013, Vodafone Foundation spent a significant amount of money on Mobile for Good, Bring A Cheer, Healthfest, Healthline, refurbishment of hospitals, and other key projects which are delivering sustainable benefits to Ghanaians.