Over 300 aged persons in Duong, a community in the Nadowli-Kaleo District of the Upper West Region, have benefited from a comprehensive free health screening exercise as part of activities marking the 2026 Mumwillee Pog-yaaree Homecoming.
The exercise covered eye screening, blood pressure and blood sugar checks, oral health assessment, haemoglobin testing, body mass index measurement, waist circumference checks, and general medical consultations.
It also included personal hygiene services such as fingernail and toenail cutting, as well as hair shaving for the aged.
The two-day homecoming event, led by Pognaa Rosemary Bangzie Mumwillima, the Queenmother of Duong, was held over the weekend in partnership with Bliss Eye Care and Care Diagnostic Services.
The event was held under the theme: “Celebrating our Aged and Empowering the Young Girls at Home.”
It was characterised by colourful cultural dances performed by chiefs and people of the Duong area, as well as displays of virtually extinct indigenous entertainment activities such as “anlee” and “kuryekurye,” among others.
Addressing the gathering, Pognaa Mumwillima said the celebration was not only a moment of reunion but also a platform to promote community welfare and intergenerational development.
She emphasised the importance of recognising the contributions of the elderly, describing them as “our living libraries, our custodians of tradition, and the pillars of wisdom in our communities.”
“Through their sacrifices, resilience and guidance, we have inherited values of unity, respect, hard work and perseverance,” she added.
Pognaa Mumwillima reiterated the need for collective responsibility to ensure the well-being of the aged, to enable them live in dignity, good health and happiness.
She also underscored the need to invest in the development of young girls, particularly through education, to help build a sustainable future for the community.
Pognaa Mumwillima expressed appreciation to the Ghana Health Service and other individuals and groups, including the Member of Parliament for the area, whose contributions made the exercise successful.
Naa Damasus Awuolo Towaari II, the Chief of Duong, commended the Queenmother for the initiative, saying it would help advance the development of the community.
He noted that many people, particularly the elderly, were living with health conditions they were unaware of, and said the free screening services would help expose such conditions for timely treatment.
Dr Zakarea Al‑Hassan Balure, Manager of Bliss Eye Care, expressed concern about the high number of cataract and glaucoma cases diagnosed during the exercise.
He said persons diagnosed with cataracts and other complications, including glaucoma, were referred to appropriate health facilities for further management, while those who required reading glasses were provided with them.
Dr Balure, an Optometrist, recommended comprehensive eye screening in the area to help provide the needed services and prevent “needless blindness.”
GNA
