More than 500 people, mostly women and the aged, in the Sunyani municipality and beyond, at the weekend benefited from a free health screening exercise for various health conditions.
The management of the Sunyani-based Sompa FM, a radio station, with support from some partners, organised the exercise, which was the fourth edition of the Sompa Health Clinic, an annual health outreach instituted by the FM station.
It was held at the Sunyani Coronation Park, and the beneficiaries were screened for ear, nose, throat, eye and dental conditions.
There were also tests for blood sugar levels, blood pressure levels, body mass index, as well as physiotherapy and gynecology services.
The 21st Clinic, Heaven’s laboratory services, A&A Medical Centre, Owusu Memorial Hospital, Gengimed Dental Clinic, Bosomtwi Urology Hospital and the St Ignatius Eye Center partnered the station to hold the event.
Some of the people with serious health conditions were referred to seek further medical attention, and others were also provided with medications.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after the health screening exercise, Mr. Yaw Aboagye Boadi, the General Manager of Sompa FM said the station appreciated the partners for their support, calling for more partnerships.
He explained that the station instituted clinic 2022 as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) to give back to society, saying they had prioritised health and sports in the execution of the CRS to help the health status of the people.
In a related interview, some of the beneficiaries expressed their appreciation to the organisers for giving them the opportunity to know their health conditions. They said the health outreach had enabled them to know their health status on a yearly basis.
Mrs Martha Mensah, a beneficiary, said she was highly excited about participating in the screening exercise and thanked the station and its partners for the opportunity.
Okyeame Kwaku Okyere, a participant and a resident at Yamfo, a mining community in the Tano North Municipality of the Ahafo Region urged the FM station to sustain the health screening exercise to enable poor and vulnerable people to know their health conditions.
He said it was not that many of them were unwilling to go for periodic medical checkups; however, it was difficult for some of them to do so because they could not afford it.
Mr Mohammed Mahamud, another beneficiary and a resident of Abesim, near Sunyani lauded the health screening exercise and commended the FM station and its partners and prayed that the organisers would organise the event at the community levels too.
