ASA Savings and Loans Limited is to spend some GH¢225,000 on its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) this year in the areas of health and education.

Last year, the company spent a total of GH¢157,507 on its CSR in all the 17 branches and 96 business centers across the country of which 7,401 people benefited.

In the same year, ASA organized 28 medical screening and presented food items, insecticide treated nets, educational materials, furniture among others to 14 institutions across the country.

Mr. Mohammad Iqbal Kabir, Western Regional Manager of ASA Savings and Loans Limited disclosed to the B&FT at the 2018 first health screening exercise for its clients at Tanokrom, a suburb in Takoradi that, the company has been in existence since 2008 and has been supporting petty traders and market women to expand as well as sustain their businesses.

“Last year, the Tanokrom branch gave out GH¢381,360.00 as loans to over 2000 clients to support their businesses; loans are given between three to 10 months and that repayment of loans are very encouraging, “, he said.

Health screening

Mrs. Zalia Alhassan, Takoradi Area Manager of ASA Savings and Loans Limited said, this is the first health screening exercise for the Western Region.

“The health screening, will be organized on monthly basis for clients at our branches and business centers throughout the year, we are ever ready to support them’’ she said.

She pointed out that good health care enables the individuals to get the strength to work efficiently; at ASA, the health of our clients is paramount, without them, we will also not be in operation.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Helena Adoma Ntiamoah, a nurse at the health screening explained that over 500 people were expected to be screened as malaria is the most frequent disease seen at such events followed by hypertension and diabetes.

According to her, the team before the exercise began, took time to educate the participants on how to keep their environment clean and use insecticide treated net to prevent malaria.

With hypertension, she said those who were screened did not know that they have; hereditary and life style such as late eating, stress, a lot of thinking among others contribute to hypertension.

Also, she said three people were diagnosed of being diabetic; they have been educated as well and referred to the hospital for treatment.

She noted that most people screened do not go to the hospital to check their health status, they go to the pharmacy shops to buy counter drugs and this, triggers a lot of diseases.

“I will advice individual to get enough rest, abhor eating late, exercise regularly to reduce stress”, he said.

Health screening at Cape Coast

In a related development, ASA Savings and Loans Limited (Petrol Business Center) at Cape Coast in the Central Region has organized free medical screening for about 200 clients in the communities in which its operate.

They were screened in malaria, hypertension, blood pressure, glucose and hemoglobin as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility and for the individual to know their health status.

According to Mr. Mithu Bhushan Debnath, Cape Coast Area Manager of ASA Savings and Loans Limited, the health screening is to ensure that their clients who are mostly Small and Medium Enterprises are healthy in doing their businesses.

He said the company, has been organizing health screening for its clients across the country annually “we are sharing our profit with our clients and we also want them to feel they are part of us, without them we would not have gotten this far”.

Dr. Osman Alhassan at the Anomabo Health Center in the Central Region explained after the exercise that the most occurring diseases were malaria, hypertension and low blood pressure.

“They have been counseled whilst some of the have been advised to reduce the consumption of sugar and salt intake as well as do some exercises and visit the hospital for regular checkup since most of them are not aware they have certain diseases” he said.

Also, he urged them to ensure good environmental practices as well as ensure the use of Insecticide Treated Nets at all times to prevent malaria.

He added that the health screening is a good initiative by ASA Savings and Loans Limited and should be commended.