By Godfred Aaneamenga Polkuu
Nabdam (U/E), Sept. 21, GNA – The Haven of Love Children’s Foundation has completed a six-day community health outreach in the Nabdam District providing free medical and eye care services to residents across five communities.
The initiative dubbed: “Nabdam Health Summit 2026,” held from August 31 to September 5, took healthcare services to the Sakote, Nangodi and Pelungu Health Centres, Immaculate Conception of Mary Clinic at Logre, and the Gundoug/Woredaa CHPS compound.
It was funded by Dr Mark Kurt Nawaane, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Nabdam Constituency and Chairman of Parliament’s Select Committee on Health in partnership with the NGO.
During the six-day exercise, 1,447 residents were screened for various eye conditions, 1,504 had their blood pressure checked, and 985 benefited from general medical consultations.
The Foundation also screened a total of 628 people for diabetes, and out of the number, 591 recorded normal blood-sugar levels: 26 were within the pre-diabetes range, while 11 people fell within the diabetes range.
Beneficiaries whose results required further assessment were advised to undergo additional testing and appropriate clinical management, while others with conditions requiring further attention were referred to appropriate health facilities.
A total of 199 people were also booked for cataract surgery.
Apart from the screening exercise, the Summit provided free National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) registration and renewal services to beneficiaries.
Mr Samuel Nana-Bekai Djirackor, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, told the GNA that the outreach programme was designed to identify people with health conditions and support them with appropriate care.
“When we talk about healthcare, we are talking about people, families and lives. Our goal was not simply to screen people and record figures. We wanted to bring healthcare closer, identify problems early and help connect people to the care they need,” he said.
Mr Djirackor said the turnout at the five centres demonstrated the need for accessible, community-based healthcare.
“We have seen the need, we have listened to the communities, and we have seen what is possible when people and institutions come together. The question we must continue asking is: How do we reach the person who has not yet been reached?” he said.
The Founder said lessons from the programme would inform future community-health interventions, particularly in eye care, diabetes, hypertension, preventive health education and services for hard-to-reach communities.
He reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to its mission of “Restoring Hope, Transforming Lives, Loving the Treasured,” and stated that “Healthcare should not only exist in facilities. It must reach the people.”
Mr Djirackor expressed appreciation to the MP, the Managements of the Regional Health Directorate, the Nabdam and Bawku West District Health Directorates, the health professionals and stakeholders who participated in the exercise.
Madam Vivian Gumbe, a Physician Assistant (PA) at the Upper East Regional Hospital, who conducted general medical consultations, said the exercise revealed cases of high blood pressure, cataracts and other health conditions which required further attention.
She disclosed that some clients presented with conditions that had already progressed and were referred to the Regional Hospital and other facilities for further assessment and management.
Madam Gumbe called for stronger public health outreach and increased availability of Public Health Nurses to provide health education and preventive services in underserved communities.
The PA noted that increased recruitment and deployment of public health personnel could encourage residents to seek care early and improve access to health information.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Godfred Aaneamenga Polkuu
Reporter’s email: [email protected]