Accra Brewery Limited, Ghana’s premier brewery company has marked this year’s World AIDS Day with a health outreach programme geared towards sensitizing residents of Agbogbloshie on HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

The event held in collaboration with GIZ, the German Development Agency, had its scope widened this year to include education on Ebola and Cholera, arguably the most topical health issues in Ghana in recent times.

The event saw over 500 residents screened for Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar, Weight and Height for BMI while undergoing Breast screening and a Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) exercise. In addition, ABL also paid for the NHIS registration of minors and the aged.

This brings to five, the number of times residents of Agbogbloshie have hosted the company in commemorating the World AIDS Day, an event which is observed annually on 1st December.

Speaking at the sideline of the well-attended event, Ms. Joyce Ahiadorme, Corporate Communications Manager, ABL, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to promoting good health and quality of life for communities within which they operate.

‘‘This gesture speaks volumes of ABL’s commitment to promoting quality health care, in line with the company’s commitment to sustainable development which include, creating a thriving, clean and productive world,’’ she averred.

She further noted that “the pronounced effect of Ebola and Cholera recently in the sub-region, has invariably reduced the level of awareness and attention to HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.  It is therefore to sustain the relevance of HIV awareness that ABL continues its commitment to holding this event annually.”

Mr. Maxwell Hammond, the Project Coordinator of GIZ noted that “as a development-focused organisation, we see the need to partner ABL to undertake this year’s health screening as a way of ensuring the health and wellbeing of the residents of the Agbogbloshie community, most of whom are engaged in economic activities that bring development to their families, the community and Ghana as a whole”.

On behalf of residents and participants, Madame Dorcas Debordes expressed her profound gratitude to management and staff of ABL for affording them an opportunity to take stock of their health needs.

“For a people who barely have time and money for regular check-ups, some of these health outreach programmes bring us so much financial and health relief. It is on this note that I express, on behalf of all the beneficiaries, our unreserved appreciation to ABL for this laudable gesture," she said.

Accra Brewery has, since its establishment in 1931, positioned itself as a community-oriented company. Not only does the company support the health needs of communities but it has also, on numerous occasions donated chemicals and spraying equipment, medical equipment, educational material, amongst a host of other social amenities to communities within its operational area.  This is in addition to an annual Adabraka health screening exercise which ABL organizes in partnership with the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL).