MyHelp-YourHelp Foundation, a Christian charitable organization, has organised a free health screening exercise for the residents of Abeka Lapaz and its environs on Saturday, July 22, 2023.

This was done in collaboration with Sue Sam, a UK-based Ghanaian gospel singer, at the Light of Life Gospel Mission.

In all, 137 individuals, including children, participated in the health screening exercise, which has now become a regular feature of the Foundation's annual event. Ailments, including typhoid, malaria, hypertension, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS, were checked for.

The beneficiaries were also counselled on the need to adjust their lifestyles to avoid heart disease, stroke, alcoholism, and drug abuse, among others. This required constant exercise and good nutrition.

The Foundation assembled a team of medical practitioners from major health facilities in the Greater Accra Region, such as Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Cocoa Clinic, Tema General Hospital, Feden Hospital, and Lekma Hospital to conduct the exercise. These health workers are all members of the Foundation.

Cases of hypertension dominated but amazingly, most were already known cases by people who defaulted in taking their medications.

Other recorded cases were diabetes, moderate anaemia, anorexia, obesity lumbago gastrointestinal infections, and malnutrition, among others. Individuals whose conditions needed further clinical diagnoses and treatment were referred to bigger health facilities.

Dr Riches Esiape, the head of the Myhelp-Yourhelp Foundation’s medical team who is also the Medical Manager of Cocoa Clinic, advised participants to maintain a healthy lifestyle and place a high priority on routine medical examinations to enable the early diagnosis of disorders in their bodies.

"The highest earning age of any worker is their most productive and accomplished period, characterised by a balance of experience, expertise, and vibrant health. However, it's crucial to take care of oneself to sustain this earning potential and not let it be hindered by ill health," he said.

Kenneth Amevor, a Laboratory Scientist, and a member of the Foundation added, “We encourage everybody to go to the hospital, have your BPs checked, have your sugar levels checked, and do a general medical examination. There are many things in the body that until you are checked, you would not know until it is too late.”

Nicholas Cofie, founder, and chief executive officer of the foundation explained that the foundation was created to improve the lives of the needy and less privileged members of society by giving them access to necessities of life like quality healthcare and education and other social amenities.

He said the exercise was targeted at providing an opportunity for people, especially those who could not afford frequent medical check-ups due to financial constraints, to have access to medical care and help to inform the people about their health status.

"It is important that occasionally, once every few months, the medical facilities offer such a screening program," adding that it offered a means for the early identification, management, and treatment of severe and occasionally chronic disorders.

Sue Sam believes the free health screening is a way of giving back to the neighbourhood that helped shape her.

Furthermore, she declared "The wellbeing of the human body thrives on both spiritual and physical balance, so while encouraging people to appreciate their spiritual life, we must also work on our physical health."

Considering what he called "the satisfactory turnout of people" who showed up for the screening, Mr Cofie expressed his excitement over the screening's positive conclusion. For him, health screening was a social responsibility of the foundation to the community.

The free health screening is one of several events planned for the 5^th Anniversary Celebration events of the Myhelp-Yourhelp Foundation and Sue Sam's celebration of God's benevolence, which will culminate on July 29, 2023, at the Light of Life Gospel Mission in Abeka Lapaz with a Ghanaian rendition of her annual Mercy Seat Concert. The Daughters of Glorious Jesus and Minister Akesse Brempong, among others, are anticipated to minister on this.

He expressed his appreciation to Patrick Yaw Boamah, Member of Parliament for Okaikoi Central, for passing through to motivate the team while also making a financial donation to the initiative.

He also expressed heartfelt gratitude to the entire Myhelp-Yourhelp Foundation team for defying the odds of a rainy day to turn out in their numbers to support a worthy cause.

Additionally, he commended Cocoa Clinic, Widama Pharmacy, Dannex Ayrton Starwin PLC, and Kafnam Company Ltd for offering pharmaceuticals and medical equipment for exercise, adding that their support was crucial to the success of the occasion.