Hundreds of residents from the Abokobi/Boi community in the Ga East Municipality of the Greater Accra Region have benefited from a free medical screening exercise organised by Edinam Medical Centre, a newly established private health facility located in the area.

The event, held on Saturday, 3rd May at the premises of the medical centre, saw staff offering support in various healthcare areas, providing attendees with essential services and professional guidance.

The primary beneficiaries of the exercise were elderly residents, middle-aged women, and children. Screening services covered dental care, breast cancer, blood pressure monitoring, malaria testing, and diabetes screening.

In addition to the screening, residents received health education on several critical topics, including kidney health, mental wellbeing, fertility, and maternal health.

Participants were advised on how to maintain healthy kidneys and were sensitised on reproductive and psychological health.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the programme, Dr Senayah, the lead medical doctor for the initiative, highlighted some of the prevalent health concerns affecting residents.

These include hypertension, heart failure, menstrual disorders, fertility challenges, visual impairments, and dental issues.

“I was surprised to see the eye specialist and the dentist extremely busy,” she remarked. “I initially thought they would be idle, but to my surprise, there was a constant stream of people seeking their services.”

Dr Senayah explained that the management of Edinam Medical Centre decided to undertake the outreach to support vulnerable residents.

She observed that apart from the only government-owned health facility, which is frequently overwhelmed, many locals struggle to access other facilities in times of need.

“We want people in this community to become health-conscious, to understand how to manage their medications and monitor their mental health. That’s why we organised this screening,” she said.

She added that some residents diagnosed during the screening were provided with free medication.

Those medications not available at the centre were prescribed for external purchase. Some of the drugs were donated by Mega Pharmaceuticals, while the Edinam Medical Centre also gave multivitamins free of charge and contributed other medications for distribution.

Though the state-of-the-art facility has existed for the past eight years, it officially began operations only two months ago. According to Dr Senayah, the centre is equipped with modern medical tools necessary to serve the growing population in the community.

She encouraged residents and Ghanaians in general to undergo regular health check-ups, describing the public’s general neglect of personal health as worrying.

“My message to the community is simple: do not wait until you fall ill before visiting the hospital.”

Dr Senayah noted that the centre aims to organise free medical screenings at least once every year, particularly targeting the vulnerable within the Abokobi/Boi enclave.