Residents of the Ho West District in the Volta Region are benefiting from a five-day medical outreach programme aimed at screening, diagnosing and treating diseases, as well as addressing other health concerns.
The outreach is being organised by the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, in collaboration with Ghana Medical Relief, a non-governmental organisation based in the United States of America.
At the opening ceremony on Wednesday, the Volta Regional Minister, Mr James Gunu, commended the MP for what he described as visionary leadership.
He said the initiative would improve the health of the people, which was essential for development.
Mr Gunu explained that the outreach programme aligned with the government’s agenda of promoting good health to enhance productivity.
He, therefore, urged residents to take full advantage of the exercise by participating actively, so they could rid themselves of diseases and remain healthy to contribute meaningfully to national development.
Mr Bedzrah mentioned that the programme was expected to screen about 15,000 people within the period.
He added that although the outreach was primarily for residents of the constituency, people from outside the area could also benefit, provided they catered for their own transportation and feeding.
According to him, the medical team stationed at the Awudome-Tsito Health Centre would serve communities such as Abutia, Anyirawase, Name and Hlefi. He added that the team would later move to Dzolokouita to serve communities including Kpedze, Dodome, Akome and Avatime, among others.
Mr Bedzrah further disclosed that he had procured two ambulances for the district to replace broken-down ones, and would hand them over to the District Health Directorate after the programme.
He urged residents to take their health seriously, stressing that good health remained the greatest asset.
The leader of Ghana Medical Relief, Dr Samuel Owusu, said the medical team would conduct screenings and provide medication based on diagnoses made. He added that cases requiring further attention would be referred to the Ho Teaching Hospital for free treatment.
Dr Owusu said the team would also monitor patients after treatment to ensure full recovery, and would screen for conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and eye-related problems.
FROM SAMUEL AGBEWODE, AWUDOME-TSITO
