By Dennis Peprah
Abesim, (Bono), March 04, GNA – A total of 110 people in the Sunyani Municipality with hernia, hydrocele, lipomas, breast tumor and other lumps developed on their bodies are presently undergoing free surgeries to improve their health.
Health professionals at the Rafchick Hospital at Abesim, near Sunyani and led by Dr Philip Anokye, the Clinical Coordinator at the Chiraa Government Hospital in the Sunyani West Municipality are conducting the surgeries for the beneficiaries, mostly women and children.
The surgery forms part of a health outreach exercise being organised by the hospital in collaboration with the Bono Regional office of the National Health Insurance Authority.
Mr Seid Mubarack, the Member of Parliament for Sunyani East Constituency, is sponsoring the 10-day health outreach exercise for the residents to know their various health conditions.
During a visit to the hospital, Dr Anokye told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the exercise was timely and commended the MP for the assistance.
He observed that many women had hernia and breast tumor (fibroadenoma), however, lived with those conditions because they could not afford the cost of surgery, indicating that delays in surgery could worsen their conditions and contribute to serious health implications.
Dr Anokye expressed concern about the growing stigmatization and discrimination and of people with breast tumors and hydrocele, worrying that many people, especially women with hernia and men with hydrocele hide their conditions because of stigma.
He dispelled the wrong perception that those conditions were linked to spirituality, and urged the public to provide care, instead of stigmatizing and discriminating against those with the conditions.
In another interview, Dr Luis Anto, the Chief Executive Officer of the Rafchick Hospital advised those with the conditions to leverage on the opportunity, saying that with advancement in medicine and technology “there is no need for surgery to scare anybody”.
He noted that it was costly to undergo surgeries on hydrocele, hernia and breast tumor and advised those with the condition to avail themselves for the free operation.
Madam Brakisa Agyeman, the Nurse in-charge at the Rafchik Hospital said there was no cause for alarm and urged those with the condition to be bold and undertake the surgery for their own good.
She said many of the beneficiaries had successfully gone through recuperating and thanked the MP for helping to alleviate the plight of the clients.
Mad Comfort Tutuwaa, a 73-year-old beneficiary living with hernia, also expressed her heartfelt appreciation to the MP, explaining that her condition was discovered 15 years ago.
She said she had managed to live with that condition because of lack of financial assistance to undergo the surgery and lauded the health professionals for their care and compassion.
Mr Simon Laribik, the Accountant at the Rafchick Hospital, later took the GNA through some of the services at the facility including dialysis, antenatal and post-natal care, gynecology and ambulances services, among many others.
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Mensah