Rainforest Alliance, a non-governmental organization that believes that a healthy landscape needs healthy people, has organized a free health screening exercise for over 1500 people in Sefwi Wiawso, Akontombra, Bodi, and Bibiani-Ahwiaso-Bekwai in the Western North Region of Ghana.

The exercise provided an opportunity for the over 1500 beneficiaries to be screened for various illnesses, including diabetes, hyperthesis B, malaria, HIV, and Covid-19 tests, as well as a free medical consultation.

As part of the free health screening exercise, the Landscape and Environmental Agility across the Nation (LEAN) project funded by the European Union also donated Covid-19 PPEs to health officials in Sefwi Wiawso, Akontombra, Bodi, and Bibiani-Ahwiaso-Bekwai to fight the new omicron variant virus across the globe.

The donated PPE’s comprises liquid soaps, hand sanitisers, transparent face (mask) shields, infrared thermometer, headgear, gown boot, surgical gloves, and plastic aprons among others.

Mr. Kwadwo Nti Baniako, Manager Landscapes, and Communities Rainforest Alliance said that the outreach was to provide the community and farmers access to free medical care and medication because the body has its threshold of weakness.

“As we eat and drink, we breathe in and out, take medicine, we don’t know what we are introducing into our system and as blood circulates through our system, if we don’t give the body good health maintenance, what it means is that, the body will end up breaking down.

Other project partners included in the implementation of the LEAN project in other parts of the country are Tropenbos Ghana, World Vision, and Ecocare Ghana” he mentioned.

Municipal Director of Health Service, Bibiani Ahwiaso-Bekwai in the Western North Region, Mr. Oppong-Darko Oheneba said Covid-19 vaccination is now mandatory for all including farmers.

“We are still in the battle against Covid-19, so these items are going a long way to support the fight against Covid-19.

We are grateful to Rainforest Alliance and its donors for this kind gesture and I must reiterate that these items would go a long way in the fight against the Covid-19 in the Western North Region. We are so happy to receive these items” he said.

Municipal Health Director, Sefwi Wiawso Municipal Health Directorate, Dr. Francis Boakye Takyi said the items were a very important contribution towards the emergency response to the fight against the Covid 19.

“As Covid-19 came around, we have been receiving donations from government and some philanthropists. Let me say this; this organization called us some time back and informed us that they want to present some items to us.

"As a matter of fact, they came to us for a list of items we needed as health directorates. Here we are today they have brought a lot of items beyond our expectations. On this note, we want to express our gratitude to Rainforest Alliance and European Union for this great support” he mentioned.

Disease Control Officer, Sefwi Wiawso Municipal, Mr. Koyaara Abraham said the free health screenings included a comprehensive check-up and follow-ups on reactive cases.

He explained that patients were also able to consult the doctors present on site, and collect medications. “I wish that the initiative would be an annual affair to bring relief to the vulnerable about healthcare,” he said.

Mr. Isaac Brafi, Chairman of Sefwi Wiawso Landscape Management Board, expressed gratitude to Rainforest Alliance for the gesture and urged them to repeat the gesture often.

In attendance at the screening and PPEs donation exercise were Ms. Abena Dufie Woode (Senior Project Manager for Landscapes and Environmental Agility Across the Landscape), Mr. Emmanuel Antwi Bawuah (Senior Associate Landscapes and Communities), and Kelvin Abraham Nartey (Senior Associate Landscapes and Communities).