Scores of residents of Hwidiem and its surrounding communities in the Asante-Akim North District, have benefited from a free health screening exercise, organized by the Hwidiem Calvary Congregation of the Presbyterian Church.

The exercise which formed part of activities marking the 80th anniversary of the church, was a collaboration between the church and the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital.

Beneficiaries were screened for hypertension, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, prostrate, eye diseases and other primary health conditions. Those found to have health challenges were given first aid treatment and referred to other bigger health facilities, for further examination and treatment.

Dr. Edward Aboagye, an Ophthalmologist at the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital, who led the medical team, underlined the need for people to adopt healthy lifestyles.

He said most diseases that took people to various health facilities were lifestyle - related and could be avoided through healthy eating as well as regular exercises and medical check-ups.

Many of the people he examined during the screening had never visited an eye clinic, a situation he described as unacceptable, considering the fact that, the eye was one of the critical organs of the human body.

He urged the public to visit health facilities regularly on their own to know their health status.

The Reverend Seth Oteng Ofori, the Minister in Charge of the Church, said 80 years of existence as a church amidst numerous challenges was a huge milestone worth celebrating.

The celebration, he added, would not be complete without touching the lives of the people in the community that had hosted the church over the years. “It was imperative as a church not to focus only on the spiritual needs of its members but also attend to their physical and material needs”, adding that, they must be healthy to be able to participate in church activities. The Rev Ofori, who doubles as the Director for Development and Social Services of the Asante Akyem Presbytery, said the exercise was also part of the church’s outreach programmes aimed at extending the love of Christ to the community.

Mr. Alexander Yirenkyi, Chairman of the Anniversary Planning Committee, said apart from the health screening, numerous activities including fun games, clean up exercise and evangelism, had already been held to commemorate the anniversary.

It would be climaxed with a grand durbar on May 5, during which it would dedicate its church building and break the ground for the construction of classroom block for a school it had planned to establish.

The theme chosen for the anniversary is, “Go and Make Disciples of All Nations; 80 Years of Experiencing the Power of Calvary for Transformation and Development”.