In a significant push to make healthcare more accessible to underserved populations, a comprehensive health outreach was recently held at Mallam Atta Market in Accra New Town, targeting market women and their families with free screenings and medical consultations.
Led by Social Enterprise Ghana in partnership with New York University (NYU), University of Ghana School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ghana Health Service, Divine Group International, and Health Factor, the initiative brought critical health services directly to the bustling market environment—where many women find little time to seek medical care.
Over 300 women received screenings for breast cancer, blood pressure, hepatitis B, malaria, and obesity-related assessments such as Body Mass Index (BMI). Participants were provided with personalised health reports and referrals to nearby medical facilities for further care.
“This outreach breaks down barriers that often prevent hardworking market women from accessing healthcare,” explained Edwin Zu-Cudjoe, Executive Director of Social Enterprise Ghana. He highlighted the program’s goal of establishing quarterly screenings to ensure ongoing health support for this vital community segment.
Beyond healthcare delivery, the event also served as a hands-on learning platform for nursing students from NYU, who are currently in Ghana for an international practicum. Clinical Professor Robin Toft Klar of NYU underlined the importance of combining community service with educational enrichment to foster a deeper understanding of global health equity.
“This initiative exemplifies how academic institutions can partner with local organizations to create meaningful impacts—not just in patient care, but in cultivating future healthcare professionals who appreciate the complexities of global health,” she noted.
University of Ghana’s Dr. Mariam Idris echoed the value of such collaborations, emphasizing how they strengthen ties between academia and communities, ensuring vulnerable groups like market women receive essential health services.
The outreach garnered enthusiastic support from market leaders and residents, who welcomed the opportunity to receive quality health screenings without interrupting their daily trade. This community-centred model offers a promising blueprint for expanding healthcare access to other informal settlements and marketplaces across the country.
