Kumasi, Feb.19, GNA – The HopeXchange Medical Centre Saturday screened children of head potters (kayayei) in the Kumasi Metropolis for various ailments and gave medication where necessary.
Hundreds of children from the Racecourse, Bantama, Suame and Kejetia markets were screened while undernourished children received nutrition supplements.
Dr Adoma Odame, a Senior Specialist Paediatrician at the Centre, said the Hospital decided to embark on the outreach programme given the fact that the potters sometimes were unable to afford the basic medical needs of their children.
The programme also formed part of the facility’s aim to bring hope and change lives among the less-privileged in the society in the ‘Month of Love’.
Dr Odame said the team observed after the screening that most of the children were underweight, had nutritional problems, skin diseases, respiratory tract infections and malaria.
She explained that that was due to the unhygienic environments most of them lived.
She expressed worry over the nutritional status of the children and said malnutrition under age two affected brain development.
“If we allow these children to be malnourished with no intervention, you can imagine what they will become in future – their potentials will not be achieved,” Dr Odame said.
She appealed to philanthropists and health services to conduct regular check- ups and screening for those marginalised children.
She was optimistic that if family planning services and introduction of condom use were brought to the doorsteps of those mothers, it would help reduce HIV, sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies among the young mothers.
Dr Odame encouraged them to be sleeping under treated bed nets, ensure proper hygienic environments and ensure regular deworming of their children.
Ms Alimatu Idrissu, a head potter, told the Ghana News Agency that she was grateful to the Centre for reaching out to them to manage their health challenges.
She said their busy schedules and limited funds accounted for their inability to visit the hospital regularly.
The children and their mothers were refreshed with assorted drinks and pastries after the exercise.
GNA