Ghanaian Health Innovator Wins UN Award

The director of a health project in Ghana and a global NGO have been named co-recipients of the 2002 United Nations Population Award.

Kwasi Odoi-Agyarko, executive director of the Rural Help Integrated (RHI) project in Ghana's Upper East Region, won the individual award "for outstanding leadership and achievement in the field of reproductive health in Ghana," the UN Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), reported on Wednesday.

"RHI has become known for innovation and cultural sensitivity ... working to increase male involvement in contraceptive use, fostering effective project management systems and leadership, promoting community-based reproductive health services, and significantly raising awareness of female genital cutting in Ghana," UNFPA said.

The NGO, EngenderHealth, trains and gives technical assistance to reproductive health service providers in developing countries. It won the institutional category for providing access to quality reproductive health service delivery in resource-poor countries and the United States. Formerly called AVSC International, the NGO enableS medical staff to offer voluntary female sterilization and vasectomy at low cost in rural health facilities. It also conducts research on new reproductive health services, including cervical cancer treatment.

"Each winner will receive a diploma, a gold medal and an equal share of a monetary prize during a ceremony at United Nations Headquarters in New York in June," UNFPA said. There were 21 nominations for the 2002 award, including 10 individuals and 11 institutions.