Abetifi, Oct 03, GNA - Members of the Adonten Ladies Association, a humanitarian non-governmental organization made up of Kwahu Abetifi women based in Accra, have organized free medical care for 150 aged persons at Abetifi on Saturday to mark the International Day for the Aged.

Help Age International, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, the Pharmacy Council and a twelve-member medical team made up of a medical doctor, medical assistance, a pharmacist and nurses from the Kwahu Government Hospital at Atibie supported them. The team treated the aged persons of diseases such as hypertension, joint and bodily pains.

Miss Susuana Mensah, the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, commended the association and the Help Age International for heeding the government's call for partnership in the country's socio-economic development.

She said the government's introduction of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was meant to provide quality and affordable health delivery system to all Ghanaians, especially the aged and advised the aged to register with the schemes near to them. The leader of the medical team, Dr Francis Addai of the Kwahu Government Hospital, told the elderly people that they should watch out for changes in their bodies since the body could not perform certain functions as it was during their youthful age. Mrs Joyce Preko, the president of the association, said this was the fifth time that free medical assistance had been given to the aged in the town.

She said they have also provided a day centre where the aged visit regularly to play indoor games in the town.