Auburn University (AU) – in collaboration with the University of Cape Coast (UCC) with support from the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) and Member of Parliament for Sekondi, Lawyer Andrew Aygapa Mercer – has organised a free medical screening for the people of Sekondi.
The two-day general health screening was attended by close to 1,000 people, made up of children and adults at the Sekondi Youth Centre.
According to Dr. Richard Anthony, Acting Medical Director at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital, doctors and nurses checked the vitals of those who came for the screening; conducted urine examinations; picked out some hypotensives – and some were newly-diagnosed to have certain diseases they had no idea of, among others.
He pointed out that there was some uncontrolled hypertension in some people: “This is as a result of not taking their medication, because they had run out of it and not gone back to the hospital for new ones.
“During the eye-screening there were people with cataracts, those who had difficulty in reading, and a few with upper respiratory infection; some were given medication while some were referred to seek further medical attention at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital,” he added.
MP for Sekondi, Lawyer Andrew Agyapa Mercer, explained that the medical screening is in reference to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between him and the Auburn University in October 2017 to safeguard good health care delivery for the people in his constituency.
He noted that the two-days used for medical screening was not enough for the people of Sekondi: “We are suggesting that, next time, it should be a week and an annual affair.
“Medical screening and health status enables the individual to identify what s/he does not know concerning his/her health; if you are not well, you cannot work and contribute to growth the economy,” he said.
He added that government is also doing significant work to ensure the health status of the people improves, as well as ensure good health care delivery.
Dr. Elizabeth I. Essamuah-Quansah, Administrator of Auburn University in the United States of America, was happy with the turnout of people for the Sekondi screening.
“This is an initiative of the MP which is very laudable and must be encouraged by all; it is on pilot basis, and hopefully next year the days will be increased to cover more people,” she said.
She pointed out that the university brought a lot of laboratory staff to assist in the medical screening, as well as gave health supplies to the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital.
She encouraged all to check their health status at all times, and not only when they are not well.
