The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, has organised free health and medical screening exercise for about 500 people at Ntotroso in the Asutifi North District of Brong-Ahafo Region.

The exercise, including laboratory examination, medical consultation and provision of drugs after diagnosis formed part of the Society’s five-day 2016 annual general meeting held in Sunyani on the theme: “Pharmacy Practice: Optimizing Patient Safety.”

Dr Francis Manu Sarpong, former Vice President of the Society advised the people to go for regular medical checkups to know their health status to avoid any unusual health conditions.

He said majority of the people in the society are unaware that they have either curable or incurable diseases but with regular medical checkups every sickness could be identified early for the necessary medical control.

Dr Sarpong entreated the public to practice proper hand washing with soap and water or use approved hand sanitisers to prevent any infection after greeting or visiting the toilet or urinal.

He advised the people to ensure cleanliness in and around their communities to prevent contraction of communicable diseases.

Mr Francis Boateng of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) encouraged the public to report any negative effect they get after taking drugs to any nearby FDA office.

He said this would enable them to trace its source, investigate and probably withdraw such drugs from the market to prevent further occurrences.

Mr Kingsley Abeyie, Pharmacist with the KAMA Health Services said the Society decided to do the exercise at Ntotroso because of the mining activities in the area, saying the people could easily be affected by all forms of contagious diseases.

Barima Twereko Ampem III, the Paramount Chief of Ntotroso, thanked the leaders and members of the Society for the decision to undertake the exercise in the town and urged the people to always heed the advice of health personnel to lead healthy lifestyles because that guarantees healthy families and a healthy nation.