The Accra Golden Lion’s Club in collaboration with the Nsawam Government Hospital has organised a free diabetes screening exercise for traders at the Nsawam market to alert participants of their health risks.
Mr Daniel Akuffo, President of the Club said the Nsawam market traders were selected because members of the Club observed that their activities could not allow them to go for regular check-ups at the hospital.
He disclosed that the exercise is on the calendar of the Lions’ Club International to set the month of November aside for diabetes awareness globally by its members.
Mr Akuffo said their objective for undertaking the exercise was to make the traders aware of their sugar level and give them the necessary management to secure their health.
“We invite members of the… public who have passion to serve to join the Club as our main purpose is to serve the needy and vulnerable and reach the under privileged in the society,” he said.
He also urged corporate organisations to partner them to deliver better services to the needy in the society.
Dr Prince Baah Van-Ess, Clinical Cordinator of the Nsawam Government Hospital said Africans are adopting Western lifestyles and hence, Western diseases.
“We are eating more fast foods without even exercising. Therefore we are even getting more non-communicable diseases than the communicable diseases.”
Dr Baah Van-Ess said the exercise was necessary because it would help them detect the risk factors of getting the disease in each of the participants so that they manage the cases to prevent any future complications.
“Diabetes is not like malaria that will prompt you of a sick feeling with any symptom of headache, high bodily temperature, or sweating; even though it is a silent killer,” he noted.
He said some of the sugar levels detected in some participants exceeded 22, which is very abnormal, therefore such persons could be counselled on their food intake and their situations could be managed from going worse.
He advised the public to desist from acts such as intake of fatty, salty and sugary foods that could cause hypertension and diabetes that could eventually lead to stroke and heart attacks.
Mrs Ester Mensah, a trader of provision foods at the market told the GNA in an interview that, “I was told I have a normal sugar level indicating a lower risk of getting diabetes, and I’ very happy”.
Mr Ahmed Rockson, a 68 year- old Lotto Writer who also checked his sugar level urged the Club to do more of such exercise to ensure their health safety.
He said he would be grateful if the organisers could undertake a similar exercise again to screen them on other diseases including Hypertension, HIV, and Hepatitis.
The Lions Club International is a global non-governmental organisation that has a core mission to serve the needy, vulnerable and less privileged in different ways with branches across the globe.
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