Adidome, the capital of the Central Tongu District, has taken a bold step in preventive healthcare with the launch of a free health kiosk dedicated to blood pressure and blood glucose testing.

The project, an initiative of the Wellness Bridge Initiative founded by the Paramount Chief of Adidome, Torgbui Kwasinyi Kakaklolo Agyemang V, is designed to curb the growing toll of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.

Strategically located near the market and the Adidome lorry station, the facility brings essential health checks to the doorstep of residents, removing one of the key barriers to early detection and treatment.

Speaking at the launch, the Paramount Chief explained the motivation behind the project.

"My motivation comes from the fact that I see a lot of young people dying in their prime, and I see some suffering from stroke as a result of high blood pressure and diabetes. Some of them have become disabled in many ways. These are people who ordinarily are not old; they are people in their prime. For me, it is a kind of preventive health initiative."

He stressed that the kiosk is only the beginning, noting that awareness creation on healthy lifestyles, exercise, and nutrition will continue, alongside plans to replicate the facility in five other sub-districts of Central Tongu.

The District Chief Executive of Central Tongu, Addison Dodzi Mornyuie, welcomed the initiative, highlighting its proximity to the community’s busiest areas.

"This is the first time something like this is happening in the whole country, and it is Central Tongu. Most times, our people don't feel like going to the hospital. The zeal for visiting the health facility is virtually very low. They don't go because they feel they are not sick, so there is no need to visit the health facility. Most times, too, it is some of this blood pressure, diabetes that pulls them down, and they get sick.

So, when this facility is here, this is just closer to the station, closer to the market, so the market women will just take a walk to the facility and get those vitals checked, and if any of them whose BP is too high, the diabetes is too high, they will refer the person to the health facility and largely, it will prevent a lot of the diseases that our people go through."

Chairing the event, Elikplim Kwabla Aƒetɔgbɔ, CEO of Independent Power Generators, Ghana, said the kiosk would help address the country’s healthcare staffing challenges.

"The doctor-patient ratio we have in this country is not the best. If we have this facility here, with the health officials, I think we are getting somewhere, and it will reduce the rate at which we lose our loved ones."

However, the North Tongu District Director of Health Services, Baba Awuni, expressed concern about the lack of participation among young people.

"It is rather unfortunate. You could see from those who are taking advantage is only women. And these are women who are above 30, 40 years, which shouldn't be so. Hypertension now is not a problem of the aged. We have people who are less than 20 years getting NCDs, which shouldn't be so.

So, what we will do now to ensure they come on board is to intensify our education. So we are trying to liaise with the initiative to see how we will increase sensitization, using the radio stations, our mobile van, visiting churches and mosques."

The launch concluded with a free, comprehensive health screening conducted by medical professionals, giving residents the opportunity to check their vitals and receive early referrals where necessary.

The Paramount Chief expressed optimism that the kiosk will become a model for other districts across the country in the fight against lifestyle-related diseases.