Traders and commercial drivers at Suhum in the Eastern region have benefitted from a free medical screening exercise.

They also received treated mosquito nets for free for malaria prevention.

The corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity fully funded by the financial institution, ASA Savings and Loans, had the participants screened for eye ailments, blood pressure, hepatitis B, diabetes and malaria among others.

The traders, the majority of whom are clients of the financial institution say they hardly get the time to go for medical check-ups due to their trading activities, and heaped praises on the company for such an intervention.

The traders say they sometimes report to hospitals with different ailments and conditions which usually scares them.

ASA Savings and Loans has however designated periods to cater for the health needs of these traders to prevent their health conditions from deteriorating.

A trader, Emelia Ponti said she and her colleagues have benefited from the screening exercise as they have been given medications and advice on their health conditions.

The head of the medical team from Modern Care Clinic, Rahman Akugri disclosed after the exercise that, 173 people were screened of which 45 (26%) had high blood pressure, 15 (8.7%) had high sugar levels, 7 (4.05%) tested positive for malaria, and 145 had eye allergy conjunctivitis.

However, 106 (61.25%) of the total number were deemed generally safe.

He said all those with symptoms were given medications while others were given medical advice to prevent their conditions from getting worse.

Health Specialist, Rahman Akugri commended ASA Savings and Loans Limited for being consistent in attending to the health needs of its clients and the communities within which the company operate.

The Area Manager for ASA in the jurisdiction, David Amevor, explained that the exercise is in line with the company's Corporate Social Responsibility in supporting communities.

The Branch Manager at Suhum said, "This is not the first time we are doing this for our clients. Sometimes some of them find it difficult to visit the hospital because they cannot leave their businesses, so with this, it helps them and the impact on the society is big."

Also present at the event was the CSR-Sustainability Manager of ASA Savings and Loans, Richard Nartey.