Deputy Minister for Education, Tertiary, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has organized a free-health screening for his constituents ahead of the December 7 general elections.

The move, according to Mr. Ablakwa who is also the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, falls in line with his plans to retaining the North Tongu parliamentary seat for the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The exercise which is in collaboration with the ‘Medics for NDC’ saw over 1,500 people screened for blood pressure, malaria, syphilis, check their sugar levels and as well examine their eye sight.

The target audience, according to Mr. Ablakwa, is the aged – 55 years and above.

He told journalists ahead of his campaign launch, Sunday, at Mepe in the North Tongu District that the health needs of his constituents is paramount in his scheme of things.

“Why we are doing this health screening as the first part of the program of activities is that often when you do rally, it is mainly for the youth. They do really hijack it and bring to bear all their energies and our elders will be left out. This time around, we don’t want our elders to feel left out. We want them to also feel that we care about them and one way we go about it is to organize this health screening for them. They will be going through eye screening, diabetes checks, malaria, and blood pressure, among others. We want them to live long because we need them to continue to guide us and tap into their wisdom. I want them to live a longer and healthier live”, he noted.

Dr. Catherin Denu, Deputy National Women’s Organiser of the NDC commenting on the exercise said “we are concerned about the health of the people, especially, the aged. This is one aspect of President John Dramani Mahama’s Changing Lives, Transforming Ghana agenda.”

According to her, even before the close of the health screening exercise, her team has identified quite a number of diseases among the people and had referred them to the hospitals nearby for treatment.

A deputy Nurse Manager at the Catholic Hospital said apart from screening the people, her outfit will also be sensitizing them on the need to undergo periodic health check up to know their health status.

This, she noted, will reduce the mortality rate in the constituency.