Wellness is said to be a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing – not merely an absence of disease. In view of this, Shiida – a wellness and traditional centre – has been opened. According to managers of the centre, the occurrence of COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to be deliberate and conscious about ones’ health and wellness.
The centre, which aims at being one of the premier traditional therapy centres in Accra, is taking a contemporary and holistic approach to health management by offering combination of massage and wellness treatments; nutrition; reflexology facial and body anti-aging treatments; an upscale ultra-chic, ultra-comfortable spa; traditional /Ayurveda therapies; weight-loss programmes; rejuvenation and relaxation massages; body detoxification and more with the finest linen and equipment.
“We will meet the needs of our clients through a unique combination of traditional herbs and products, which make the Shiida experience extra rewarding. As the demand for health products continue to grow and our population ages, centres likes this will aid the health sector so that the hospitals are not inundated with preventable ailments,” said Maxine Menson-Chief Executive Officer.
Deputy Minister for Health Tina Mensah lauded the initiative, adding that Shiida Wellness Centre will aid the country’s efforts in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG); and ensure health and wellbeing for all, including a bold commitment to end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other communicable diseases by 2030. It also aims to achieve universal health coverage and provide access to safe and effective medicines and vaccines for all.
Ms. Mensah said the private health sector is offering many opportunities to improve access to and coverage of service which are crucial in the achievement of SDG 3. Additionally, the private health care providers play an important role in the health system of many low-income and middle-income countries, easing some of the pressure on governments to provide health care services for all citizens.
She explained that traditional and alternative medicine refers to all the different forms of health practices and products outside the mainstream conventional medicine, and it is known to be the oldest form of healthcare practice found in almost every country around the world.
She noted that since the 1970s, integration of ‘proven’ traditional and alternative practices with national health systems has been advocated to improve primary care access and health outcomes through increasing the availability of services as an additional point of contact.
“In 2011, the Ministry of Health introduced Traditional and Alternative Medicine into the mainstream health care system in eleven selected hospitals across the country. This strategy was to ensure that services rendered by Traditional and Alternative practitioners are offered in a safe, respectful and effective manner according to the policies and regulations of Ghana and international conventions.
Due to the crucial role of Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Ghana has established a Traditional and Alternative Medicine Directorate at Ministry of Health to coordinate the activities of policy initiation and implementation. The Ministry of Health is therefore extremely grateful and proud of what Maxine Menson and her team have established, and will do everything to ensure that the necessary environment is created for the sustenance of this wellness centre,” she said.
