The Nandom Youth Forum (NYF), an NGO comprising citizens of the Nandom District of the Upper West Region, has organized a free medical screening, sensitization and treatment for the people of Nandom.

More than 700 people were screened and treated with various illnesses including malaria, diarrheal diseases, hypertension, chronic liver diseases and fevers, a statement issued on Monday in Accra by the Forum said.

The doctors also carried out surgical operations on people with hernias, hysterectomy as well as Emergency Caesarean Section. Others were also put on Plaster of Paris (POP).

The statement said four medical doctors working outside the region turned up for the health outreach programme.

They were Dr Alexis Ire, Medical Superintendent of the Bimbila Hospital of the Northern Region, Dr Donatus Dery of the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital, and Dr Mohammed Bukari and Dr Boahen Antwi, both of the Tamale Teaching Hospital.

Dr Dery advised the people to keep their environment clean and put up a good drainage system in order not to create breeding grounds for mosquitoes which spread the malaria parasite.

He also admonished them to sleep under treated mosquito nets and seek early medical attention any time they were sick.

The Paramount Chief of the Nandom Traditional Area, Naa (Dr) Puoure Puobe Chiir VII, organized a mini durbar of all the chiefs of the traditional area at his palace to interact with members of the Forum.

The Medical Team reiterated the need for keeping clean environments and advised against excessive intake of alcohol which led to liver diseases.

They also asked those who farm along the rivers to wear protective clothing so as not to be bitten by the Black Fly which spreads River Blindness.

Naa (Dr) Puoure Puobe Chiir VII, tasked the Chiefs to spread the message to their subjects through durbars at their various jurisdictions.

Mr. Cuthbert Kuupiel, Vice President of the Forum, said it started in 2004 when a few youth of Nandom decided to come together and pool resources to cater for the health needs of the people.

He said the main objective of the group, which was health, was on course because through the educational talk shows over the years, more people were now leading healthy lifestyles.

Mr. Kuupiel said the Forum chose to focus on the health of the people because “Health is Wealth,” adding that the people of Nandom were mainly peasant farmers who could not go to the farm in poor health.**