HEAL holds medical outreach for Ekumfi Ekumpoano community

Health Empowerment and Access Link (HEAL), an organisation working to bridge the gap in health care, has held its maiden medical outreach for more than 250 members of Ekumpoano, a fishing community in the Ekumfi District of the Central Region.

The 30-member medical team screened the fisherfolks for diabetes, hypertension, Hepatitis B, HIV, malaria, and pregnancy and administered medications to those who were found ill.

HEAL also administered folic acid and iron supplementations to adolescent girls to cater for the excesses of their menstrual cycle, and gave out dewormers for the children.

Dr Emmanuel Kwesi Anim, Founder of HEAL, said it was the vision of the organisation to close the gap in health care delivery through health screenings, wellness education sessions, corporate wellness partnerships, and community and school outreaches.

He noted that the screening found many cases of hypertension, malaria, diabetes, as well as fever and respiratory conditions among children.

He also observed that many people diagnosed with hypertension had defaulted in taking their medications, resulting in some complications, including blurred vision and tingling sensations.

He encouraged patients to take their medications religiously and urged parents to deworm their children regularly.

Dr Anim entreated the people to use treated insecticide nets, wear protective clothes, weed their environment, and desilt gutters to protect their health.

“Before you take any medication, seek medical opinion; come to the doctor for them to assess you before you start,” he added.

Speaking to the GNA after the exercise, Madam Comfort Ansah, a 55-year-old beneficiary, expressed gratitude to the organisation for the gesture, saying she would go for regular check-ups as advised by the medical staff.

Mr Kofi Bosu, a 75-year-oldman, observed that his condition would have reached an irreversible stage but for the health exercise.