By Simon Gali/Freda Mwini, GNA
Loho, (UW/R), April 21, GNA – The Ghana Red Cross Society (GRCS) has intensified its community outreach activities in the Upper West Region to promote public health through sensitisation, free screening, and community engagement, particularly for marginalised communities and groups.
The outreach covered the Loho community in the Nadowli-Kaleo District, as well as engagements with the Fulbe community in Wa, and the overlord of the Wala Traditional Council.
The health sensitisation and screening focused on key public health concerns, including high blood pressure, Hepatitis B, cholera, and blood sugar-related conditions, as well as education on cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) among others.
Speaking at the outreach event at Loho, Mr Jeremiah Afako, Head of Programmes and Disaster Manager at the Head Office of the GRCS, said the intervention emphasised the importance of regular health checks, early reporting to health facilities, and preventive practices.
He indicated that the initiative formed part of a nationwide campaign to improve the Society’s visibility and enhance its engagement with underserved populations.
Mr Afako explained that though many people recognised the symbol of the Red Cross, misconceptions persist regarding its humanitarian mandate, necessitating continuous public education.
He noted that the outreach would help inform the communities about disaster reporting channels to enable them report disasters early and seek timely assistance.
Mr Ahmed Mohammed Saani, a Senior Physician at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Hospital at Kaleo in the Nadowli-Kaleo District, identified overcrowding and poor ventilation as major risk factors for CSM, and advised households to ensure adequate ventilation and avoid congestion in rooms.
He also emphasised good hygiene practices, proper nutrition, high water intake, and early reporting of symptoms such as severe headache, fever, neck stiffness, and sensitivity to light.
Mr Isshaque Abdul-Rauf, Acting Upper West Regional Manager of the GRCS, observed that the sensitisation outreach had significantly impacted the communities and would be sustained in collaboration with community stakeholders.
Other stakeholders at the engagements expressed the hope that sustained interventions by the GRCS in partnership with the communities would help improve the health of communities and enhance collective disaster prevention and management.
The GRCS also announced an upcoming health walk scheduled for Saturday, April 25, 2026, to strengthen the bond between GRCS and the communities while promoting healthy living among the people.
Mr Ahmed Salifu, the Upper West Regional President of the Fulbe Youth Association of Ghana (FUYAG), expressed appreciation to the GRCS for the initiative, as many people, particularly the Fulbe people, lacked knowledge on where to report disasters.
He said the engagement would help bridge that gap and improve access to emergency support.
He also appealed for equitable inclusion of Fulbe communities in national support programmes.
Mr Salifu urged authorities to enforce building regulations to prevent flooding, stressing that proactive measures were more effective than reactive disaster management.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali /Kenneth Odeng Adade