Health Concern Celebrates Fathers ®

HEALTH CONCERN Ghana, a non-governmental organization aimed at promoting health has launched its annual Father's Day celebration, dubbed 'Fatherfest 2012' with a call on fathers to attend ante natal clinic together with their pregnant wives.

The organization which runs a nursing school launched the week long activity with a procession through some principal street of Accra.

Students as well as management of Health Concern Ghana took off in a long vehicle at Haatso through Madina, 37 to GBC, Nkrumah Circle, Alajo through Achimota and then back to the school premises at Haatso while distributing flyers about the activities.

Highlights of the activities include interviews with major television stations in Accra; father's ante natal and child welfare clinic, health screening, father's cooking contest and fatherfest fair to be held at the Victory Presbyterian Church, Adenta.

Mary Aboagye (MPH), Executive Director of Health Concern Ghana, said the launch was to create awareness about fathers and the role play in their families.

'We want to acknowledge the role of fathers in society; create an avenue for people to show appreciation to their fathers and to equip fathers to assume their role more effectively,' she said.

She said most fathers are not appreciated by their children because they have taken a back seat in their upbringing.

'We want fathers to be actively involved in the upbringing of the children so that the children will also appreciate them,' she said.

Mrs. Aboagye encouraged fathers to team up with their wives and attend ante natal care programs so they can bond with their unborn babies.

She said fathers need to listen to the advice the doctors give their pregnant wives. 'They need to listen to these things, even the heartbeat of their babies because these create an environment for bonding between the father and the baby.'

The executive director said many men are doing very well even though they have bitter past experiences.

'Now they are doing marvelously well and I want to encourage them, those who have abandoned their responsibilities that it is not too late to go back to those responsibilities to restore relationship so that there will be reconciliation, love and affection in the family.'

 By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri