Abutia (V/R), March 11, GNA - An active lifestyle coupled with consumption of local dishes, less salt and abstinence from fatty foods provide the surest protection against life-long diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

Dr Philip Amoo, Medical Co-ordinator of Eagle Project International (EPI), an evangelisation and health non-governmental organisation gave the advice in an interview with the Ghana News Agency during a health outreach programme at Abutia on Tuesday.

Dr Amoo said it was important that the Ghana Health Service (GHS) focused attention on health education to get Ghanaians to adopt good healthy habits including how they eat and what they should eat and drink. He said the project sought to bring to the fore basic health care and advice to the doorsteps of communities, regarding malaria, respiratory infections hypertension, anaemia, muscular pains, diarrhoea, skin problems and eye allergies.

The organisation used the occasion to dispense drugs and reading glasses free of charge to people. Reverend Alex Nkrumah, Head Pastor of Revival Restoration Centre of the Assemblies of God Church; Roman Ridge Accra, under whose auspices the outreach was being organised said 1500 pieces of reading glasses worth 60,000 Ghana cedis would be given out free to those who needed them. Drugs worth 120,000 Ghana cedis some donated by Ayton Drugs and Tobinco pharmaceutical company would also be given free of charge. He said about six communities were expected to benefit from the outreach programme in the Ho Municipal area. "Our purpose is to minister to the body, soul and spirit of our people," Rev. Nkrumah said.

Mr John Pullen, of the EPI, USA said people in the rural communities were in tremendous need for medical care and treatment. He said he was impressed with the high level of friendliness and appreciation shown by the rural folks which, he said was a tribute to the life and culture of Ghana. Mr Kwesi Daniel Ntifu, an elderly patient expressed satisfaction about the way he was attended to by the team.