As part of activities marking the 130th Anniversary of the Sacred Heart Parish, Derby Avenue of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, a free health screening was organised by the parish on Saturday, 6th May 2023 at the church premises.
A total of about six hundred (600) parishioners and members of the parish community were screened in this exercise. It was an opportunity for the parish to give back to the community where the parish has resided for the past thirteen decades.
The church believes in the health of its parishioners and the members of the community, hence the initiative. The participants, including children, were screened for various diseases including malaria, hepatitis B, diabetes, hypertension, and breast cancer. The beneficiaries also had the opportunity to check their body mass index (BMI), receive eye care, and consult medical officers on diet and other illnesses.
The church also teamed up with the National Health Insurance Scheme to register beneficiaries without health insurance onto the scheme, while those with expired membership had it renewed for them.
Speaking with the media during the exercise, the Chairman of the 130th Anniversary Planning Committee of the parish, Mr Joseph Ashianor, said the purpose of the health screening was for early detection of diseases/illnesses in people who may not be aware or show signs of illness.
Mrs Florence Mensah, the convener of the Parish Health Committee, added that it was also to provide an opportunity for those who could not afford frequent medical check-ups due to financial constraints to have access to medical care. Health officers offered medical advice to those with health conditions and free treatment in some cases.
The Chairman of the 130th Anniversary Planning Committee, Mr Joseph Ashianor, commended the parish medical team, the medical team from the Catholic Professionals’ Guild, and other health workers who assisted with this exercise.
The exercise was fruitful, and the parish, together with the other stakeholders, may consider organising such programmes on a regular basis.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
