400 undergo free medical screening

About 400 people in Kwatiri, a town near Odumase in the Brong-Ahafo Region, have undergone free medical screening of various diseases.

Out of this number, 44 highly distressed patients underwent corrective surgeries to repair challenges from hernia and fibroid in a period of three days.

The 44 people consisted of children and adults who were suffering from various degrees of hernia and fibroids.

The screening and corrective surgeries were conducted by a group of 12 experienced surgeons and medical doctors backed by 22 support staff from various hospitals across the country.

With support from MTN-Ghana, the team led by Professor Stephen Tabiri, a consultant surgeon at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, treated all 314 out-patient (OPD) and 44 other cases requiring surgery at the Kwatiri health facility.

The MTN-Ghana initiated health screening event forms part of the mobile giant’s annual month-long activities and projects launch which they have named ‘Sun-City-Fest’ in the Brong Ahafo Region.

Starting with this free medical screening, MTN plans to use this year's Sun-City Festival to organise several outdoor, educative and social programs including a business forum to engage medium and small scale enterprises to embrace the technology MTN provides to addressing challenges they face at their workplaces.

Speaking to Today at the opening of the screening, Commercial Manager of MTN-Northern Business District, Mr. Peter Bimpeh, expressed delight at the partnership between MTN and the medical team.

Residents of Kwatiri and neighbouring communities, he noted, got the opportunity to have medical care and also for the treatment of ailments such as fibroid and hernia which cost between GHC700.00 and GHC1,200.00 at the hospital.

The commercial manager hinted of plans by his outfit to continuously invest in the health of its customers, adding that the company believes only healthy people could properly contribute to nation building.

On Sun-City-Fest, Mr Bimpeh said the company treasured its celebration since it offered MTN an opportune moment to be close to its subscribers as well as show its appreciation to residents of the Brong Ahafo Region.

Drawn from various hospitals in the country including Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital,(KATH), Seventh Day Adventist Church Hospital (SDA), with the lead doctor, Professor Stephen Tabiri.

Supported by 11 other core members including Dr. Appiah Kubi, Dr. Eric Owusu

and Dr. Abebrese, the medical team conducted comprehensive screening and surgeries on patients.

The team, the paper gathered, had chosen the Kwatiri township because of the incidence of fibroid and hernia in and around the community.

Having abandoned the government health facility for almost two years after its completion, the team used the screening to instill confidence in the people that the Kwatiri Polyclinic could help cater for their health needs.

A 16-year-old student, Kwasi Tawiah, who had been afflicted for four years with a hernia deformity, expressed delight at the opportunity of having his illness treated by the medical team.

He narrated how the deformity had made him uncomfortable going out to play with his friends both in school and at home.

According to him, the constant thought about the illness was affecting his ability to do well in courses offered in school and thanked the team and MTN for the benevolent gesture.

36-year-old farmer at Kwatiri, Madam Akua Wusuwaa, shed tears as she recalled how she had become a laughing stock because of the fibroid she was suffering from.

She indicated that the ailment had worried her severely, adding that she leaped with joy when she heard her favourite network, MTN, was partnering Professor Tabiri’s team to give them such medical support.