By Kamal Ahmed
Odumase-Krobo(E/R) 17, GNA – Tymcoin Pharmacies has organised a health screening exercise for more than 2,000 people at Odumase-Krobo in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region.
The exercise formed part of activities marking the commissioning of a new 24-hour pharmacy in the area and aimed to promote preventive healthcare through early disease detection.
Dr Emmanuel Matey Philansmith, Chief Executive Officer of Tymcoin Pharmacies, said the initiative formed part of the company’s corporate social responsibility and commitment to improving access to healthcare.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), he said the exercise was intended to identify previously undiagnosed conditions and provide participants with free medication and medical advice.
He said the screening covered hypertension, diabetes, asthma, hepatitis A, B and C, malaria and typhoid fever.
“Over the years, we have done a lot for Lower Manya Krobo. Every three months, we visit the pensioners’ association to screen members and provide them with free medication,” he said.
Dr Philansmith said the exercise was open to everyone, irrespective of political affiliation or religious background, although he was a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Dr Jonas Ligbi, a medical consultant who participated in the screening, said some participants already knew they had hypertension but were not managing the condition properly.
He said others with diabetes were not taking medication, while some had discontinued treatment prescribed by health facilities.
Dr Ligbi expressed concern about participants presenting with dangerously high blood pressure readings, including systolic pressure of 220 mmHg and diastolic pressure of 120 mmHg.
He urged the Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Health Directorate to intensify public education and patient follow-up to encourage people with hypertension and diabetes to adhere to prescribed treatment.
He also observed that most participants were aged 40 years and above, with few young people attending, although the youth were among the groups targeted for hepatitis B and C screening.
Dr Ligbi said early detection and preventive healthcare were essential to reducing complications associated with chronic diseases, particularly among people with a family history of diabetes.
He added that some participants cited financial difficulties as the reason for failing to obtain medication but said the intervention by Tymcoin Pharmacies was intended to help address such challenges.
Ms Koryo Maku, one of the beneficiaries, expressed gratitude to the pharmacy for providing the screening and free medication.
She said she was already aware of her condition but had been unable to afford medication.
She added that the support had given her hope of managing her condition and reducing the discomfort associated with hypertension.
GNA
Edited by D.I. Laary/Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Kamal Ahmed
Reporter email: [email protected]