The 1995-year group of Adisadel College has held a free medical outreach programme for 545 inhabitants of Adisadel village and its environs in Cape Coast.

The exercise, which started at 0700 hours saw beneficiaries mostly women, children, the aged as well as men being screened for Malaria, Sugar level, Blood Pressure, Eyes screening.

Some of the community members were provided with reading glasses and other medications upon recommendations from the medical team free of charge.

Speaking on the theme: "Back to our Roots; A Santa '95 Medical Outreach Initiative", Mr Emmanuel Eduah Offoh, the President of the year group, said the group was fulfilled in touching lives through the health screening exercise after so many years of leaving school.

"Leaving the hills 20 years and coming back to the community, at least we know we have touched some lives," he said.

Mr Eduah Offoh said it was the groups target to reach out to 600 people but the outcome was impressive "And we are happy about the results", he said.

He said the group advised community members to promote better personal and environmental hygienic practices by cleaning their surroundings, exercising regularly, eating fruits and vegetables and drinking plenty of water to ensure better health conditions among themselves.

Mr Isaac Manu, the Assembly Man for Adisadel, noted that it was the first time such an exercise had been organised in the community.

He thanked the group for remembering their roots in such a positive area especially when the community members hardly have time to visit medical facilities for routine check-ups.

Mr Manu advised members of the community to take very good care of themselves by eating balanced diet and having enough sleep.

"Too much stress gives pains to the body," he said.

He appealed to the group to make the exercise an annual initiative and support the community with a library.

Mr William Kusi-Yeboah, the Headmaster of Adisadel College, lauded the old boys for their support to the community especially when the promotion of better health conditions is paramount in the lives of individuals.

"We need more, they should replicate it and it should be yearly," he said.

Mr Kusi-Yeboah called for effective cleaning culture among the community members, saying such practices would help eradicate cholera and malaria among members of the community.

Dr Samuel Kwame Amoah of Healthstar Clinic in Ada and a member of the 95- year group, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, mentioned respiratory infections, hypertension, diabetes, malaria and worm infections as some of the major conditions the medical team diagnosed.

He said almost all the people were aware of their conditions but refuse to go to the hospitals for regular check-ups.

"We are treating those we can at the moment, but those who need referrals are going to be referred to the various teaching hospitals for thorough treatment to be accorded them extensively; but it will not end here we will still follow up to help save lives," he said.

Dr Amoah therefore advised the community members to watch their diet especially those with chronic diseases.

He called for the usage of insecticides treated nets amongst children, pregnant women and nursing mothers.

Some beneficiaries who spoke to the GNA expressed happiness about the exercise saying it was good and timely.

The "Back to our Roots; A Santa'95 Medical Outreach Initiative" was supported by Ernest Chemist, Voltic, ZeeGhurt and Pharmanova.