Leela and Eric have been working hard on this project, trying to move things forwards as quickly as possible whilst ensuring we are operating with government services.
Habib with the District Director of Health
We are happy to have gained permissions from the Regional and District
Health Directorate to take forward our research into iodine deficiency
in Lawra District, Upper West, Ghana. In Ghana it is estimated that
120,000 children born each year are at risk of intellectual impairment
due to iodine deficiency during pregnancy. ATE will be carrying out
screening across the district to find out the prevalence of goiters,
an easily detectable iodine deficiency disorder, amongst women of
childbearing age to give us an indication of the scale of this issue.
With the support of the District Health Management Team, we are busy
contacting Community-based Health Planning and Service (CHPS)
compounds to set up community entry and goiter screening in 7
community health zones, covering 22 communities through September
2015. Its an exciting project which will inform ATE on positive steps
to take to improve the health of the women and their unborn children.
By Leela Shanti