Residents of Nandom offered free medical Care

29-05-2011
Residents of the Nandom Traditional area have been offered free medical care as part of their Annual Health Outreach Programme organized by the Nandom Youth Forum, a non-profit organization based in the Upper West Region. This initiative forms part of efforts aimed at alleviating the deplorable medical situation in the community and also reach out to the poor and the aged who are most at times denied medical attention due to their poverty situation. This year’s health outreach was the eighth in the series to be organized in the community. During such events, medical practitioners who are natives of Nandom but resident in different locations of the country are brought on board to assist in providing free medical screening and treatment to the people. A team of five health professionals led by the Medical Superintendent of the Bimbilla Hospital, Dr Alex Ire, handled cases in Malaria, High Blood Pressure, Hepatitis B and other ailments to over 900 people. In the course of the exercise, some minor and major surgeries were performed by the doctors. Dr. Juventus Ziem, a Lecturer at the University for Development Studies Medical School in Tamale, Dr Mohammed Bukari and Dr. Nana Kwame Boa-Antwi both Senior House Officers of the Tamale Teaching Hospital and Dr. Susan Dontwi, a House Officer of the same hospital were among the few doctors that took part in the exercise. And for the very first time, three (3) of the House Doctors who do not hail from the area volunteered their services free of charge. It was also the first time a female Doctor participated in the programme. Dr. J. Ziem in an interview with Radio Ghana indicated that the idea of bringing doctors who do not hail from the area was to expose them to the Nandom hospital to assist in providing quality health care to the people. This, he said could generate their interest towards working in the area. Dr Ziem said though Nandom produces many qualified doctors, majority of them have refuse to stay back and offer their services to the people and attributed the unfortunate development to family pressures, financial and lack of adequate medical equipments among other challenges. According to him, exposing more doctors to the improved health facilities at the hospital, and the hospitable and social nature of the people is to encourage them to opt to work in the Nandom hospital. Members of the forum later paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of the Nandom Traditional area, Naa Puo-ure Puobe Chiir at his palace. Naa Puobe Chirr in his brief remark commended the team for the kind gesture and assured them of his unflinching support in their quest to improving the health status of the people.. Mr. Vitus Ninfaakng who spoke on behalf of the forum noted that his outfit is not only concerned with the health welfare of the people, but were also working at providing support for education and the agricultural activities in the area. He said in line with their set objective, the forum last year donated some reading and learning materials to most second cycle schools in the district. Mr. Ninfaakng therefore thanked relevant stakeholders including the Interior Minister,, Dr. Benjamin Kumbuor, Eximguaranty Company, Ghana, the Ghana Medical Stores, and the Pharmacy Council other individuals for their continues support over the years.