More than 200 people in Amasaman, in the Ga West Municipality, have benefitted from a free health screening exercise aimed at complementing government’s efforts at ensuring that everybody has access to quality healthcare.
They were examined for hepatitis ‘B’, malaria, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and blood sugar level, by a team of doctors and nurses.
Added to that, were mass deworming, dietary counselling and HIV/AIDS voluntary testing.
The programme was organized the “Afrifa-Mensa Foundation” together with “Stand out Care” and “Advocacy for Peace and Friends of the Needy”, all of them, NGOs.
Mr. Akwasi Afrifa-Mensa, Executive Chairman of the Foundation, said the exercise would be extended to those in Adjen-Kotoku, Akotoshie, Medie, Samsam, Kwashiekuma, Onyansana, Okushiebiade, Aikai-Doblo, Nsakina, Oduman Borkorkor and Manhean.
The goal was to assist, particularly the poor and the vulnerable in both rural and urban communities to have access to improved health care. Apart from the free healthcare screening, the Foundation has been carrying out health education campaign, giving out bursary to students from poor homes, micro loans to petty traders and market women, to boost their economic activities.
Mr. Afrifa-Mensa said they were eager to bring health care closer to people, who by the nature of their work, were unable to find time to visit the hospital for regular check-ups and those, whose economic situation made it difficult to afford medical care.
He urged all to put premium on their health and avoid unhealthy lifestyle - junk food and binge drinking.
They should regularly exercise the body, practice healthy eating habits and to have enough rest to reduce stress.