First Lady organises free health screening for the Agortime-Ziope district

First Lady Mrs. Lordina Mahama says the free medical outreach programmes organised by her organisation, Lordina Foundation and the Ghana Chapter of Organization Of African First Ladies Against HIV in collaboration with Ghana AIDS Commission have been highly successful in bringing much needed attention to critical health issues affecting people.

According to her through such medical outreaches health officials educate people on how to stay healthy and ensure that none of these diseases result in your premature death. They are also made aware of services readily available at many of the health centres across the country.

The First Lady disclosed this at a free health screening exercise organised for the people of Agotime-Kpetoe and its environs in the Volta region.

Mrs. Mahama noted that most people do not voluntarily access these health services and that is why it is necessary to organize outreaches to bring these services to the doorsteps of the people.

She expressed worry about figures from the outreach programmes, which shows that many women have very little information and knowledge about breast and cervical cancers.

She said many women who may have some information are too busy with work and family to take advantage of health services available to them.

"The result is that we are diagnosed with diseases at an advanced stage, and which make their management difficult. Some women wait until well into their pregnancy to report to the clinic for HIV and Syphilis screening" she observed.

This she described as unacceptable since when diagnosed early, babies can be prevented from HIV infection transmitted from an HIV positive pregnant woman or from a breastfeeding mother.

She said due to this worrying trend she is fully committed to see the community outreach programmes reaching all Ghanaian women irrespective of age and location.

Mrs. Mahama also announced that her campaign with the Ghana AIDS Commission and UNAIDS to prevent Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) is achieving results.

"We have been encouraging pregnant women to ask for and receive the prevention services any time they go to the antenatal clinic. Across the country, 70% of all HIV positive pregnant women are receiving medication to prevent their babies from getting infected with HIV" she stated.

The First Lady said her target is to ensure that all pregnant HIV positive women are diagnosed and receive treatment so that no baby is born HIV positive.

She entreated participants of the free health screening to share their experiences with people in the communities. She believes that way, more people will be informed and also access PMTCT, breast and cervical cancer services.

The people of Agortime-Ziope District and its environs were offered reproductive health services, especially screening of breast and cervical cancers, syphilis and HIV testing. They were also informed and educated about the importance of these services to them personally, their family and the community as a whole.