Domakwae (Ash), Sept. 23, GNA - The Federation of Ghana Medical Students Association (FGMSA) on Friday launched its annual health week at Domakwae in the Ejisu-Juaben district of Ashanti with a call on Ghanaians to take extreme caution on behaviours that could affect their heart.

Dr Agyenim Boateng, consultant at the Department of Medicine of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), who made the call, said there was the need for people to take extreme care of acts and behaviours that could lead to the improved health conditions. The health week celebration, which was under the theme: "how young is your heart", was an initiative of the medical students in the country's universities to educate Ghanaians, especially those in the rural areas on some of the common diseases that affected them and how they could prevent them.

Dr. Boateng said most diseases that affected the heart were acquired through habits and it was important to educate the people to know and prevent themselves from acquiring such diseases. He commended the students for the initiative and urged them to continue to educate the rural people to understand issues that affected their health.

Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister, cautioned Ghanaians against the consumption of foods that posed danger to their health. He advised the people to register with the National Health Insurance Scheme to enable them to receive affordable medical health care. Professor Kwame Sarpong, Provost of the College of Health Sciences of KNUST appealed to the authorities in rural communities to always invite health personnel to educate them on health issues.

He appealed to government NGOs and individuals to assist the students in their educative campaign to enable them to reach more people in rural communities.

Mr. Wilfred Asmah, Chairman and Health Officer of the Association, said the annual health week was to enable the students to release their potential and educate members in the rural communities, who lacked access to health information on diseases that affected them.