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Madam Tina Mensah, a Deputy Minister of Health, has urged Ghanaians to be conscious of their health conditions at all times to maintain high standards of wellness.

She underscored the need for regular medical check-ups to help identify any strange illness and to seek timely treatment to avoid sudden deaths which were becoming common in the Ghanaian society.

Madam Mensah made the appeal in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra on the sideline of a medical outreach programme, organised by the Gold Coast Medical Foundation in collaboration with Weija-Gbawe Municipal Assembly and POS Foundation.

The health screening exercise, which registered over 350 beneficiaries, was aimed at providing free medical care for residents within the Weija-Gbawe Municipality and its environs.

Madam Mensah, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Weija-Gbawe Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, said the health screening was also to assist some people who could not afford to go to the hospitals for regularly checkups.

She noted that it was therefore, important for initiatives such as medical outreach programmes to be organised to enable people, particularly the less privilege in society, to have access to these screening exercises, thereby knowing their status.

The Deputy Minister commended Gold Coast Medical Foundation, an American based Organisation, for their gesture to provide healthcare to various communities across the country.

Dr Kwabena Boakye, Co-Founder of Gold Coast Medical Association, said beneficiaries of the exercise were screened for hypertension, kidney diseases, hepatitis B, diabetes, prostate cancer and blood pressure and as well breast cancer examination.

He said the medical team observed that lots of people had high blood pressure and though they were taking their medication, they take it for like a month and when they run out they fail to go back to the health centres for refill.

He said another challenge was that majority of the beneficiaries did not have funds for the medication.

He said as part of the outreach programme they offered free medication and also educated the constituents on the importance of living healthy.

Dr Boakye, who noted that the Foundation would be in Ghana till June 13, added that “we are offering free screening and medication; however, those with severe cases will be referred to the closest hospital for further checkups”.

Mr Patrick Kwesi Brako Kumor, Municipal Chief Executive of Weija-Gbawe Municipality, said issues concerning health were a priority, thus, ensuring that people had access to healthcare and making sure constituents were fit to go about their duties and businesses.

He said with regards to malaria prevention measures, the Assembly had taken steps to ensure that the drains were desilted, and would soon provide dustbins in the various homes to make sure people did not litter around.

“But at the end of the day for us to achieve this, our people have to be reminded that the health of the citizenry rely on us, we need to make sure we do the right thing; is all about attitudinal change,” he added.

Mr Michael Nti Mensah, a former Secretary at Weija SCC Taxi Rank, lauded the Gold Coast Medical Association for coming to their aide.