From Stephen Odoi-Larbi
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, Mrs. Georgina Nkrumah Aboah, last Saturday, brought health care to the doorsteps of her constituents, in an exercise which saw over 800 people going through eye screening (ophthalmology), dentistry and general medical examination.
The event, which took off in Breman-Asikuman, was mainly targeted at the old aged, poor, and vulnerable in society, as well as those who do not have a health insurance card to attend to a medical facility when sick.
The exercise was undertaken by a team of medical officers from the National Medical Outreach Programme, Ministry of Health, and spearheaded by the Chief Dental Surgeon, Dr. Constance Addo-Yobo, at the cost of GH¢20,000.
At the dental section of the exercise, the patients were sensitised on when and where to see a dentist if they have any problem. They were also taken through some tutorials on oral hygiene instructions (how to keep the teeth and mouth clean).
Dr. Isaac Yeboah, who took the patients through this exercise, shared some of his observations with The Chronicle. Chief among them, he noted, were cavities (kaka) and bad oral hygiene.
According to him, those having teeth with cavities were filled, while those with “very bad teeth” had them extracted.
At the eye screening (Ophthalmology) section, which was headed by Collins Hagan and Osei Yaw Akoto, patients, 37 years and above, were screened by taking them through an auto refractor machine to determine the strength of corrective eye glasses needed.
Those with general ailments were also diagnosed, and, where necessary, medicines prescribed.
Mrs. Aboah, commenting on the exercise, said it has always been her aim to ensure that the general wellbeing of her people was good, hence, the health screening exercise. “The health of the people is the wealth of the nation,” she noted.
She urged her constituents to periodically go for medical check-ups to know their health status.
According to Mrs. Aboah, she was encouraged to organise the event, following the huge response she received during the breast cancer screening exercise, reproductive health education, and the blood donation exercise she undertook some few months ago.
The health screening exercise, she argued, would be conducted annually to safeguard the gains made in the earlier exercise.
She told The Chronicle that her immediate priority going forward was to equip the hospitals and other health facilities in her locality with medical supplies to address the health needs of her people.
She also hopes to register 1,000 children and the aged on the National Health Insurance Scheme to enable them enjoy affordable health care when sick.
Dr. Addo-Yobo, also commenting on the exercise, lauded the MP for embarking on the initiative to address the health needs of her people.
She urged the citizenry to maintain their good health by eating the “right type of food”, avoid eating fatty foods, eat plenty of vegetables, drink plenty of water (about three litres a day for every adult), take enough rest, cut down on carbohydrates, and exercise to burn some fat.
She also urged the people to brush their teeth regularly by using fluoride toothpaste to prevent tooth decay, cut the consumption of refined carbohydrate (toffees etc.) and avoid straining their eyes.