Statistics from a screening exercise organized by the medical team of Aroma Foundation in Adjoa, a fishing community in the Ahanta West Municipality of the Western Region show disturbing upsurge of cases of diabetes, Anaemia and malaria in the community and its environs.

Results from the free health screening exercise saw thirty-six new cases of diabetes, eighteen new cases of Anaemia, forty-one new cases of malaria and thirty new cases of blood pressure.

Some residents of the community have also attributed recent deaths recorded in the area to the upsurge.

Apart from fishing, Adjoa is also known for serious farming activities in the Ahanta West Municipality of the Western Region.

The community has a population of about four hundred residents with majority of them being farmers and fishermen.

The community is prone to various forms of diseases due to its location. There exists no health facility in the community whilst access to basic amenities also remains a challenge.

Pregnant women in the community are mostly forced to deliver in tricycles and in the middle of the road due to the absence of a health facility.

The exercise conducted by the Aroma Foundation with the goal to create awareness and map up strategies to fight the growing health threats, also saw the provision of free drugs and counselling.

Executive Director of the Aroma Foundation Monica Dede Odonkor, urged residents of the community to make a deliberate effort to live healthy lives by ensuring regular checkups, as this will enable early detection, diagnosis and treatment of diseases before they become chronic.

On his part, Head of Pharmacy at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital, Mr. Kojo Apenteng called for responsible use of drugs and other orthodox medications to avoid complications.

He advised residents to seek healthcare at qualified facilities and as early as possible.