Traders at the Dome Market in Accra are calling for healthcare services to be brought closer to marketplaces, citing high costs and tight work schedules as major barriers to regular medical check-ups.
The call came during a free health screening and NHIS registration exercise organised by Women Supporting Women Ghana in collaboration with partners.
Some of the traders who took part in the exercise said they rarely visit hospitals because leaving their stalls means losing income for the day. Others explained that the cost of comprehensive health checks at health facilities discourages them from seeking care.
According to them, outreach programmes like this often become their only opportunity to check their health status, making such initiatives critical for their wellbeing.
Speaking at the event, President of Women Supporting Women Ghana, Deborah Apreku, said the initiative forms part of activities marking the group’s one-year anniversary. She noted that beyond economic empowerment, the organisation is focused on ensuring women remain healthy enough to sustain their businesses and livelihoods.
She also used the opportunity to urge women to embrace self-reliance, encouraging them to commit to hard work and take charge of their own lives. According to her, women are capable of achieving for themselves what they often expect from others, especially men, if given the right support and mindset.
The exercise brought relief to many traders, highlighting the need for more community-based healthcare interventions across busy commercial centres.
