Obom (GAR), Oct 9, GNA - A one-day free medical screening has been organised at Obom in the Ga West District at the weekend by Akuafo Hall, University of Ghana as part of the activities marking the Hall's 50th Anniversary.

Over 500 people who called at the Obom Community Health Post were screened for diabetes, eye, dental and general ailments. Other community members were also given free lectures on proper use of Agro-Chemical and farm practices, environmental cleanliness and nutrition, as well as girl-child education.

The Member of Parliament for Ga West Constituency, Mr. Daud Anum Yemoh, addressing a public forum later called for a proper land planning and use in the country, to avoid the land degradation in most parts of the country.

He noted with concern the reckless use of land in the area and cautioned that the rate at which land owners were freely allowing their lands to be used, if not checked and controlled, would deprive the youth in the area the chance of getting land for farming. Mr. Daud Yemoh charged the health authorities to intensify the campaign for the registration for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), to avoid the situation whereby a section of the people would be left out.

Dr. Cynthia Kwakye, the District Medical Officer of Health, who spoke on the need for the people to register for the NHIS, won the admiration of the gathering that led an elderly man to come forward to express their willingness to join the scheme en block. The Hall Master, Reverend Dr. Cephas Omenyo, explaining the rationale behind the outreach programme said the decision to choose Obom, a farming community, was in recognition of the role farmers played in making the establishment of the University of Ghana a reality in 1948.

He noted that had it not been the generosity of the farmers in heeding the call of Dr J.B. Danquah in raising the seed money for the establishment of the premier University, a lot of the educated people in Ghana today would not have got the chance.

In a related development, the Akuafo Hall presented assorted drugs to the Obom Health Post. The drugs, which were donations from the University of Ghana Hospital, Kama Pharmaceuticals and Kinarpharma, were handed over to the Medical Officer in-charge of the Health Post. Akuafo Hall was established as the second hall of residence and named after the farmers of the Gold Coast in 1954. It was officially opened in October 4, 1955 by Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the first Prime Minister and later the President.

The theme for the Golden Jubilee Celebration is: Akuafo Hall, 50 Years Contribution Towards the Development of Ghana. Among the activities lined up for the celebrations are a public lecture on Tuesday, October 11, on the topic: Akuafo Hall, 50 Years of Excellence. The speaker is Justice Professor A.K.P. Kludze, former Supreme Court Judge with Mr J.S. Addo, Member, Council of State, Chairman of Prudential Bank and former Governor of Bank of Ghana as chairman.