Accra, April 24, GNA - Professor Fred Sai, a Reproductive Health Consultant was on Thursday honoured by the Family Health International (FHI), comprising public health organizations for his immerse contribution towards awareness creation on family planning, nutrition and other related health issues that particularly affected women in developing countries. He was presented with a plaque and a cheque which he handed over (cheque) to the University of Ghana for the development of the Medical School.

Prof. Sai receiving the award indicated that there was still more

to be done in the area of health, nutrition and family planning adding,

"Until Africa's children are fed, I will not put on weight". He noted that achieving the MDGs particularly on health

required that Africa dreamt of the impossible and made it work for

its holistic development, "Let Africa dream of the impossible and

begin taking actions to propel its growth and development". Prof Sai observed that though Ghana was the first to have a

policy document on family planning, it continued to be an issue of

concern and tasked political leaders to show much interest in finding

answers to the problem. He expressed gratitude to the organization, adding, "I am happy

this is being done when I am alive and not to be put in that small box

before I am honoured". In a related development, the Fred and Florence Scholarship

Scheme, of which Prof. Sai and family are founders is currently

supporting about 17 medical female students of the University of Ghana. The scheme has a seed fund of over 1.3 billion cedis. Dr Ward Cates, President of Research, FHI who gave an

overview of Reproductive health and FHI works noted that nearly

17.6 million women in Sub-Saharan Africa used oral contraceptive,

preventing over 20.1 million abortions. He said adherence to contraceptive use was imperative in

ensuring effective birth spacing and avoiding unintended pregnancy

among other development and environment factors. Dr Cates therefore called for exclusivity of family planning and

development of new contraceptives to give women a variety of

choice. Dr Albert Siemens, Chief Executive Officer, FHI noted that

giant progress had been made in Africa and called for more

innovative and effective collaboration between the organization and

countries in Africa to help achieve the MDGs on health.