The Ghanaian Minaret

Accra – An association that seeks to coordinate activities of Muslim health professionals in the country has been launched in Accra.

The Islamic Medical Association of Ghana (IMAG) intends to complement the efforts of other medical organisations to make health care more accessible to all Ghanaians, especially Muslims.

This will be achieved through awareness creation and provision of health care to deprived communities in the country through outreach programmes, seminars, workshops and conferences.

A retired Imam of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Lieutenant Colonel Umar Sanda Ahmed (Rtd) urged IMAG, as a Muslim association, to desist from being politically aligned to any group and rather focus on its core mandate of improving the health care of its people.

He advised Muslims to invest in the health, education and other social needs of their people.

“We give the excuse that Nigeria has more Muslims and resources. God in his infinite wisdom has given us our share. Do we have the passion and commitment from our own people to provide the needs of the Muslim society?” he asked.

In an interview, the President of the Association, Dr Abdul Samad Tanko, highlighted the individual contributions of Muslim health practitioners to the health sector over the years.

He also mentioned some advocacy measures being embarked upon to ensure that female Muslim health professionals were allowed to carry out their duties without any infringement on their religious rights of wearing their veil (hijab).

“There is no law banning the wearing of hijabs. Catholic nuns wear their veils to work as nurses so why do we take it against the Muslim nurse?” Dr Tanko quizzed.

A representative of CHAG, Mr Samuel Benedict Kwaku Nugblega, welcomed the formation of the association and said its contributions could complement other Faith-Based Organisations (FBO) support towards improving the health sector.

“We want to assure you that we will support and collaborate with you so that this important seed you are sowing today will grow; and what is missing in the health system, which is compassion, will be restored to the sector,” he added.

Among other sister organisations that attended the launch were the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN) and the Nurses and Midwifery Council of Ghana.