
DR. ERICA NTIAMOAH MENSAH
The Youngest Ghanaian Female Doctor Advocating for Women’s Health
Dr. Erica Ntiamoah Mensah is a 24-year-old medical doctor who graduated from Accra College of Medicine at age twenty-one, making her the youngest woman to graduate as a Medical Doctor in Ghana. She is a staunch advocate for women’s health and women empowerment and has dedicated her career to the promotion of Women’s Health, an advocacy she intends to carry as far as she continues to be in the medical profession.
Her story serves as an inspiration, demonstrating that with determination and hard work, one can achieve remarkable feet at a young age in the medical profession.
As part of Vice Versa Media Ghana’s objective to project women breaking barriers, Stella Botchway interviewed this young medical professional as she shared her biggest achievements and described her journey as one marked by numerous sacrifices and unwavering dedication.
Dr. Erica Ntiamoah Mensah is a staunch advocate for women’s health and women empowerment.
Erica’s dream of becoming a medical doctor
As busy as her schedule is, I managed to have an interesting conversation with Dr. Erica, and she unraveled the untold narratives of the long journey of becoming a medical doctor. She gave a detailed account of how that important decision to pursue medicine was influenced by both nature and nurture. “I am blessed to work as a doctor; there’s nothing else I would rather do,” she said.
After completion of medical school, she won the Ken and Angela Ofori-Atta’s prize for Overall Best Student in Leadership, Kwaku Mensah-Bonsu’s prize for Overall Best Student in Surgery and Yeboah’s hospital prize for Overall Best Student in Community Health, all issued by Accra College of Medicine.
As we continued with our conversation, Dr. Erica delved deep into her early childhood memories highlighting her challenges with learning as a child.
“In my earlier years in school, I was labeled as a slow learner with limited potential. These negative remarks crushed my aspirations to excel, leading me to doubt my intellectual abilities and often leaving me in tears due to feeling intellectually inferior. The persistent discouragement from teachers was daunting, but it was my father’s encouragement and my mother’s commitment to homeschooling that turned things around. Witnessing my own improvement became the driving force behind my determination to strive for greater achievements.”
“Starting school as a little girl, I saw schooling as an avenue to learn and play. My parents kept on encouraging me and nurturing me and always pushed me to do better and never stopped believing in me”. Dr. Erica stated that she had the privilege of writing her Basic Education Certificate Education (BECE) and West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) at an earlier age, and enrolled in medical school at age 16”.
She stressed that at every stage of her journey, she had mentors she always looked up to. “My own father Dr. Eric Ntiamoah Mensah, Professor Afua Hesse and other women inspired me greatly”. She describes that having female bosses who balanced being phenomenal at work and being amazing in their personal lives have also been a great source of inspiration to her.
“Seeing them do what they did and how they did it, made me know that certain things were possible and not out of my reach” – she emphasized.
As the youngest person to graduate from medical school in Ghana, Dr. Erica Ntiamoah Mensah explained that medical school required lots of sacrifices. “All past medical students will attest to the fact that medical school is not a walk in the park. It requires a lot of sacrifice and time, and I believe this is the universal experience”. In all of this, Dr. Erica stated that her age was actually a plus for her. “As a child, I had no responsibilities, nothing to do but to learn, and my lecturers were always fascinated to see such a tiny person in the classroom”.
Young African Female Medical doctors
In Africa, there are many young female doctors making a positive impact and demonstrating that age is no barrier in making significant contributions to the medical field.
In South Africa, Dr. Thakgalo Thibela is twenty-four years old but graduated from Medical School at age twenty-one. At age sixteen, Dr. Thibela earned a bursary from the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), marking the beginning of her journey at the University of Witwatersrand. In December 2020, she accomplished the remarkable feat of obtaining a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) at the tender age of 21, solidifying her status as a prodigy in the medical community.
Dr. Aone Gogonthe Ditiriwa became a medical doctor at twenty-five in Botswana, making her one of the youngest female doctors in the Southern African country. And Dr. Elizabeth Akintelu Abiola also made history in 2022 as the youngest doctor ever to graduate in Nigeria.
Women’s Health
Aside her face-to-face interactions with her patients on a day-to-day basis, Erica is an advocate for public health education online which involves interactive posts on different health topics, creating contents for health awareness especially on women’s health issues. She also embarks on visits to Primary and Secondary schools in Ghana advocating for menstrual health, teaching young girls the essence of paying more attention to their health e.g. menstrual cycle, wellness and also driving more emphasis on women empowerment projects.
Dr. Erica Ntiamoah Mensah after her engagements with some female students.
Women’s healthcare encompasses a wide range of medical services aimed at addressing the unique health needs and challenges faced by women throughout their lives. From reproductive health to preventive care, chronic disease management, and ensuring access to comprehensive and quality healthcare is crucial for promoting the well-being of women worldwide.
One of the key areas of focus in women’s health care is reproductive health. Access to reproductive health services, including family planning, prenatal care, and maternal health services, is essential for promoting healthy pregnancies and reducing maternal mortality rates. Additionally, addressing reproductive health issues such as infertility, menopause, and gynecological conditions is vital for improving women’s quality of life and overall health outcomes.
But, succeeding in this field as a health worker requires dedication, perseverance, and a strategic approach to help make meaningful contributions to healthcare and the well-being of others.
Finding the balance
“There is time for everything. When I get to work, I give it my all, and in my personal life, I try to do same as well”. She explains that there are times where she cannot find a balance between work and her personal life but she’s positive it will change soon. “I am hopeful that as the years go by and with a bit of experience, I will learn to balance it all”.
“I am currently at the early phase of my career, and everything I do is centered on building a solid foundation, because the more you know, the more you can help your patient” – she said.
According to her, there is so much to learn, read, and practice. “With the rapid advancement of technology and artificial intelligence. I sign up for courses, training sessions, among others but patients care is holistic and involves being compassionate, and I strive to do that daily”.
She explains that “medicine is an art which requires you to extend humanity, I want to be the doctor patients are comfortable with, trust and are eager to see. My plans are to pursue relevance, study more, go higher and endeavor in any field or activity that would make me relevant to society and positively impact on the lives of the underprivileged”.
Dr. Ntiamoah Mensah desires to be the doctor that patients are eager to see.
“I am currently not settled on any particular specialty; however, I am inclined towards maternal, child health, reproductive and public health issues. I believe every woman should give birth and access reproductive health facilities in dignity and without shame or unnecessary suffering”- she added.
Power of support systems
The young medical practitioner shares that the weight of her being labeled as “slow” or “inadequate” can be crushing, especially for a student striving to excel. To her, it is easy to succumb to self-doubt and lose sight of one’s potential. But it was the unwavering support and belief from loved ones that helped her push through the darkest moments.
Her parents, in particular, played a pivotal role in her journey. Their words of encouragement became the fuel that propelled her forward, instilling in her the confidence to challenge the limitations imposed by others. With their guidance and support, Erica began to see beyond the labels and redefined her own worth.
Dr. Eric Ntiamoah Mensah (left) father to Dr. Erica Ntiamoah Mensah (right). Support systems are incredibly important to an individual’s well-being.
Today, she stands as a testament to the power of resilience and the transformative impact of unwavering support. While the scars of past discouragement may linger, they serve as a reminder of how far she has come and the strength she has gained along the way.
A model of inspiration
The Sustainable Development Goal 3.7 aim is to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information, and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs. Known for her dedication in women’s health and empowerment, Dr. Erica is committed every woman has access to quality healthcare. For the past one year, she visits schools to teach female students about menstrual and sexual health.
“Also, with the CPF complete woman project, we focus on young women in Junior High and Senior High Schools, and the Universities to talk about vaginal, menstrual, sexual and reproductive health” – she added.
Dr. Erica Ntiamoah Mensah advice young people, especially young women to have a vision, and know their destination. “Block the noise, run with the dream and you will be unstoppable. This does not pertain to just medicine, but in all fields of life, know where you want to go, work hard at it and commit your plans into the hands of your Creator”.
As a strong advocate for women’s health, the 24-year-old woman says she is committed to breaking down barriers and ensuring that every individual has access to quality healthcare. Her journey is a reminder that adversity does not have to dictate our future. With determination, resilience, and support, the youth can overcome any obstacle and emerge victorious.
-
CELEBRATING GHANA'S FEMALE YOUTH ACHIEVERS: CHAMPIONS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT – Vice Versa Global
12.08.2024[…] Dr. Erica Ntiamoah Mensah, 25, a female medical doctor, is pioneering and advocating for women’s health in rural Ghana. Her work focuses on improving access to healthcare services and promoting women’s health awareness. […]
Leave a Reply