By Erica Apeatua Addo, GNA
Abekoase (W/R), Nov 02, GNA-Dr. Antoinette Atta Hasford, a medical officer at Tarkwa Mines Hospital has advised hypertension and diabetes patients to adhere to their review appointments and take their medications as prescribed.
She warned that ignoring advice from health professionals could cause serious complications that would be costly to manage.
Dr. Hasford gave the advice during a free medical screening for residents of Samahu and Abekoase in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality of the Western Region.
Gold Fields Ghana Limited (GFGL) through the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation HEAL Programme in collaboration with Unilever Ghana, Diagnostic Centre Limited, Rotary clubs of Tarkwa and Bogoso organized the programme.
The medical officer said during the screening they realized that many elderly people who were either hypertensive or diabetic have not been going for their reviews.
She said the figures they recorded for blood pressure and sugar were worrying and therefore advised those people to go for their check-ups regularly and ensure they took their medication.
Mr Abdel-Razak Yakubu, Executive Secretary of GFGF, stated that they also used the exercise to mark Pinktober, a month set aside to raise awareness about breast cancer.
According to him, although breast cancer was a deadly condition, it was treatable, added that was why health professionals kept stressing that early detection was key.
Mr. Yakubu explained that Diagnostic Centre Limited came with their mini laboratory to attend to people and find out what health problem they had, while Unilever supported them with its products, which were distributed to children in all the communities they were working with.
“Everyone knows about Unilever’s Do the two campaigns and they are using the occasion to educate children to brush twice daily, in the morning and before bedtime”, he added.
He stated that over 50 percent of the health professionals participating in the programme were products of their scholarship scheme, which had been running for 25 years. Some were now doctors, nurses, midwives, radiologist, dental surgeons, among others.
Mr. Yakubu said they received the scholarships because they hailed from the host communities and had returned to serve those communities, stressed that made this year’s programme unique.
Mr. Patrick Asmah, Assembly Member for Kofi Gyan Electoral Area, also urged residents in GFGL catchment areas to take advantage of such programmes whenever they were organized in their communities.
He lauded the Foundation for consistently bringing quality healthcare to the doorsteps of its host communities and beyond.
Participants benefited from general health screening including blood pressure and sugar checks, malaria, eye, ear, nose, throat, and breast cancer screening during the programme.
Some received free medications, while others benefitted from the National Health Insurance Scheme registration, renewal, or card replacement.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga /Kenneth Odeng Adade