When Miss Serena Naa Ashi Roye took over the prestigious golden crown of the 2003 Miss Ghana pageant, her duty as she pledged Ghanaians, was to campaign for the prevention of anaemia in the country.

With support from the Nutrition Unit of the Ghana Health Service, Serena has fulfilled this task ever since she took up the challenge. Latest among the country tour was a two-day sensitisation tour to the Central and Western Regions.

The campaign trail took her to Cape Coast and Takoradi where she interacted with various groups and institutions, with particular focus on women and children who are vulnerable to anaemia in the country due to poor eating habits.

The various groups the beauty queen met in Cape Coast included Dressmakers & Tailors Association and the Beautician & Hairdressers Association. She also interacted with students of the Ghana National College and Aggrey Memorial School.

The message she carried centred on the need for all the people to take their health care needs very serious.

She sensitised them on the importance of eating healthy food items with required nutrition components such as vitamins and minerals. Serena advised students to take a lot more fruits to supplement their diets this, she believes, would prevent them from getting anaemia.

Similar messages were prevalent when Serena and the health team visited Sekondi-Takoradi. Here too, they interacted with students of Fijai Secondary and Ghana Secondary Technical Schools. The team also paid a courtesy call on the Director of Western Regional health Service, Dr. Sylvester Animana.

In Ghana, people die as a result of shortage of blood and other blood related ailments. Statistics available indicate that people do not care much about the food they eat (anything goes provided it would fill the stomach).

Children in particular are the most vulnerable, thus, the exercise being undertaken by Miss Ghana is directed towards mothers and potential mothers.

It is expected that by the end of the campaign, people would have come close to the reality that anaemia can be prevented if not eradicated.