On February 21, 2026, a hands-on workshop was held at the University for Development Studies in Ghana. This event aimed to teach health students and professionals about MDWiki. This platform, created by the Wiki Project Med Foundation, helps spread trustworthy medical information worldwide.
The workshop focused on translating important medical content into Dagbani, a local language, making it easier for more people to access reliable health information. The Dagbani Wikimedians User Group played a crucial role in organizing the event, highlighting the importance of open knowledge and local language content in northern Ghana.
The first part of the workshop introduced MDWiki and explained how it can improve access to credible health information. Participants learned how MDWiki supports the translation of quality medical articles found on Wikipedia. The discussions emphasized the need for accurate health information in local languages to help bridge knowledge gaps in communities.
Next, attendees practiced translation techniques. They explored how to identify medical terms and express complex health concepts clearly in Dagbani. The focus was on keeping the meaning intact and using trustworthy references, ensuring that the translations were easily understood by the local audience.
In the final session, participants collaborated on translating actual medical articles. They worked together to ensure that the information was culturally relevant and easy to grasp.
By the end of the workshop, attendees felt more confident in using MDWiki and had gained valuable skills in medical translation. This initiative is a significant step toward improving access to credible health information for Dagbani speakers.
Importantly, recent statistics show that access to health information in local languages can significantly impact community health outcomes. According to a study by The Lancet, communities with tailored health education report better health decisions and outcomes.
The organizer, Abdul-Rauf Moshie, thanked the Dagbani Wikimedians User Group for their support and commitment to improving knowledge equity through language inclusion.
You can see the effort from this workshop tracked here: AlaafeeWiki Workshop.
The work done at this event reflects a growing trend on social media, with users increasingly advocating for health information in various languages, demonstrating the importance of inclusivity in health education.
For more information, check out Abdul-Rauf Moshie’s profile on the Wikimedia meta page.
