Report June 2025

The MWAG Triennial General Congress was held from January 17–18, 2025, at Family Health University College in Nungua, Accra. The event brought together lady doctors from all regions under the theme “Championing the Health of Women to Secure the Wealth of the Nation: The Role of Lady Doctors.”
The Congress started with a lively cocktail night featuring sessions on weight management, mental health, and healthy lifestyle habits. Attendees enjoyed engaging activities such as sip-and-paint, salsa dancing, and a 360° video booth.

The second day featured an official opening ceremony, followed by panel discussions and scientific presentations on legal issues affecting women, work-life balance, financial literacy, skincare, and health. The business session concluded with the swearing-in of new national executives as follows:

JANUARY CERVICAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

On January 28, 2025, MWAG led the National Cervical Cancer Awareness Launch at Tuesday Market in Korle Gonno. This highly attended event highlighted the importance of early screening and featured poetry, drama, and a symbolic launch with educational brochures. Screening services were provided throughout the day, and 80 women were screened, five of whom tested positive.

The event drew dignitaries such as Hon. Okoe Vanderpuye (MP), Dr. Charlotte-Alberta Cato, MWAG President Dr. Dawson, and cervical cancer ambassador Stacey Amoateng. Media coverage by GNA and GTV, community support, and souvenir distributions amplified the event’s reach and impact.

Meanwhile, the Northern, Eastern, Western, and Greater Accra regional chapters of MWAG sustained the momentum of the nationwide cervical cancer campaign throughout January. These regions organised health talks and screening exercises, reaching numerous women with life-saving information and services. The initiative was proudly sponsored by Lexta Ghana Company Limited, whose support enabled many beneficiaries to access screening at no cost.

BEAT BREAST CANCER PROJECT LAUNCH – MARCH 5, 2025

MWAG participated in the “Beat Breast Cancer” campaign launch organised by JHPIEGO and Pfizer Foundation at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel. A key outcome was Ghana Health Service’s commitment to establishing a national cancer registry and collaborating with stakeholders to revise national cancer control strategies tailored to local contexts

GHANA PEACE SUMMIT – MARCH 5, 2025

On the same day, MWAG also participated in the Ghana Peace Summit at the University of Ghana Business School, hosted by IAWPA-Ghana. Discussions focused on post-election violence and peacebuilding, with calls for integrating peace education into the national curriculum and strengthening peace advocacy structures.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY (IWD) CELEBRATION – MARCH 8, 2025

MWAG-GAR hosted a breakfast meeting at the Ministry of Health conference hall to commemorate IWD 2025 under the theme “Accelerate Action for Women’s Equality.” The event featured a keynote speech by Prof. Sandra Hewlett and an engaging panel discussion focused on gender equity and empowerment.

PROJECT HANDS CERVICAL CANCER OUTREACH – MARCH 17–25, 2025

In collaboration with St. Dominic Catholic Hospital, MWAG’s Project HANDS conducted cervical cancer screenings across nine sites in the Denkyembour District. Nine hundred and twenty women aged 21 to 62 were screened, with follow-up care provided for positive cases. The initiative underscored MWAG’s commitment to rural and underserved communities.

IPVS SYMPOSIUM – MARCH 26, 2025

MWAG actively participated in the HPV awareness symposium organised by the Ghana chapter of the International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS) at the National Vaccine Institute. Under the theme “One Less Worry,” the symposium discussed equitable access to HPV vaccines. A significant takeaway was the scheduled national rollout of the HPV vaccine for girls aged 9–14 in the third quarter of the year.

STANCHART WOMEN-FRIENDLY WORKPLACE WORKSHOP – MARCH 27, 2025

MWAG joined the launch of Standard Chartered Ghana’s women-friendly workplace workshop in partnership with Konfidants. Topics included menstrual health, fertility options, and creating supportive work environments for women. The event stressed the importance of workplace inclusivity for female professionals.

WORLD ORAL HEALTH DAY (WOHD) CELEBRATION – MARCH 28, 2025

MWAG held its maiden WOHD event at Dome Market, screening 200 individuals (144 women and 56 men). Services included 50 dental extractions and 30 scaling and polishing procedures, all offered free of charge. Unilever supported the initiative by donating toothpaste and branded T-shirts, while MWAG doctors ensured broad participation and quality service delivery.

WORLD HAND HYGIENE DAY – MAY 5, 2025

MWAG marked World Hand Hygiene Day with poster social media activation under the theme: It might be gloves, it’s constant hand hygiene.

Webinar for MWAG under 40 group – MAY 24, 2025.

The MWAG Under-40 group, spearheaded by Dr. Ewurama Danquah Tawiah, organised a webinar themed “Ever-Burning Lady Doctor: How to Overcome Burnout.” The session featured Dr. Abena Tannor, a family physician specialising in sports and rehabilitation medicine, and Dr. Ruth Owusu Antwi, a senior specialist in psychiatry. Dr. Yvonne Addai, a senior house officer at St. Dominic Hospital, Akwatia, moderated the event. The webinar drew about 100 participants from various medical specialties, including male attendees.

WORLD MENSTRUAL HYGIENE DAY CELEBRATION – MAY 28, 2025

In observance of World Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025, the Eastern Regional Chapter of MWAG spearheaded the national launch of a menstrual hygiene education campaign in Akwatia, in partnership with St. Dominic Catholic Hospital and supported by Lexta Ghana, producers of Yazz Sanitary Pads. The event gathered over 500 basic school girls from Akwatia and Boadua, who received an educational talk on menstrual hygiene and stigma reduction, as well as guidance on proper sanitary pad usage.

The session was led by a panel of health professionals, with Dr. Maite Alfonso Romero, Eastern Regional President of MWAG, at the forefront. Traditional leaders and dignitaries from Lexta Ghana Limited were in attendance.

Nationwide, MWAG chapters in the Greater Accra Region, the Bono and Ahafo Regions, the Ashanti Region, the Northern Regions, and the Western Regions supported the campaign by distributing over 1,000 sanitary pads and conducting similar educational sessions across the country. The initiative also included extensive media engagement to raise public awareness, aligned with the global theme: “Together for a Period-Friendly World.”

The event demonstrated a strong, united national effort to improve menstrual health education and support adolescent girls across Ghana.

CONCLUSION

From leadership congresses to community-based health campaigns and national policy dialogue, the first half of 2025 demonstrated MWAG’s deep-rooted commitment to improving healthcare delivery, promoting gender equality, and enhancing public health education in Ghana. These multifaceted efforts reaffirm MWAG’s position as a transformative force in Ghana’s health sector. MWAG is indeed healing with the heart of a mother.

Compiled by: Dr Oum-Kalsoum Zakaria Adam

National Secretary MWAG.

Fig 1. MWAG ladies at the national cervical cancer awareness launch on January 28

Fig 2. MWAG ladies performing dental treatment at the maiden WOHD celebration

Fig 3. National launch of WMHD marked in Akwatia- some students after receiving free sanitary pads from YAZZ Ghana