The North Kaneshie branch of the Apostolic Church has held its annual free health screening exercise on the church's premise at the North Kaneshie in Accra.

Entering its fourth year, the church put together a team of medical professionals from both private and public health facilities across greater  Accra to conduct the exercise.

The team registered hundreds of residents who went through various health screenings such as diabetes, blood pressure, hepatitis B, malaria, Tuberculosis and breast cancer.

However, a special voluntary counseling  consulting section was created to enable those who want to know their HIV status to do so.

The program was introduced by the resident Pastor of the church,  Rev. George Mingle as part of the church's corporate social responsibility to provide health care for residents.

Members of the church are among the key beneficiaries of the exercise.

Drugs were administered on those tested with minor infections while serious cases were referred to health centres for test and treatment after every exercise.

Speaking during the program the leader of the medical team, Hannah Quarshie, former Principal Midwife Superintendent at Mamprobi Polyclinic said some the common infections found on beneficiaries included malaria, diarrhea, dehydration, breast and abdominal infections.

In an interview with Myjoyonline.com, Pastor Mingle said based on request, the next health screen will witness the introduction of a mobile dental van which will offer total dental care for residents.

He noted that another area which will be considered is eye care, revealing eye specialists will join the next exercise.

He said his church is concerned about physical and spiritual needs of the people and will continue to provide medical care and health awareness for members of the community where the church is located.

Pastor Mingle recounted a situation where a boy was diagnosed with a hole-in-heart condition and was referred to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

The boy's life was saved after the church paid for the heart surgery to correct the anomaly.

He thanked the management of Promasidor, makers of Cowbell, and the medical team for supporting the program.