Well-being as a Foundation for Girls’ Education and Opportunity

In many parts of rural Africa, girls and women face daily challenges in accessing basic health services. Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), “Good Health and Well-being” is a global commitment to change this reality by ensuring everyone, regardless of gender or location, can live a healthy and fulfilling life. Across the continent, and particularly in Ghana, targeted health initiatives are helping to bridge the gap.

In rural Ghana, community-based solutions are at the heart of this transformation. The Ghana Health Service’s Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) initiative brings essential healthcare directly to remote areas. These centers offer prenatal checkups, skilled birth support, vaccinations, and family planning resources, making reproductive healthcare more accessible for young women.

Menstrual health education is another area seeing positive change. For many girls, lack of access to sanitary products and menstrual stigma leads to missed school days. Organizations like SHE and Ghana Girl Guides Association are stepping in, providing reusable sanitary pads and empowering education in schools helping girls stay in class and feel confident.

Nutrition and disease prevention are also key. School feeding programs and adolescent vitamin supplementation support healthy growth, while mobile health (mHealth) solutions are connecting women to vital information through SMS from prenatal care reminders to malaria prevention tips.

Across rural Africa, including Ghana, mental health and gender-based violence support is also gaining ground. Grassroots groups now offer counseling and safe spaces for survivors, breaking the silence around emotional well-being.

By focusing on both physical and mental health, these initiatives do more than save lives, they open doors. When girls and women are healthy, they are better able to attend school, build careers, and uplift entire communities.