Make regular health screening a habit – Dr Ibrahim urges public

Waiting until an illness becomes severe before seeking medical attention can endanger lives and increase treatment costs, Dr. Elias Ibrahim has cautioned, urging the public to make regular visits to health facilities a routine practice.

Dr Ibrahim, Chief Executive Officer of Ejura Community Medical Centre, said early diagnosis allows health conditions to be detected and treated before they develop into complications.

He cited malaria as an example of an illness that can become life-threatening when patients delay seeking medical care.

“Sometimes people avoid the hospital because they think the cost is too high. But an early visit may cost less than waiting until the condition becomes severe,” he said.

He made the remarks during a medical screening exercise organised as part of the Ejurahene’s annual festival celebration. The initiative aimed to support residents who face financial and other barriers to accessing healthcare.

The screening covered hepatitis B and C, blood pressure, blood glucose, breast cancer and cervical cancer, alongside general health assessments.

According to Dr Ibrahim, the services were designed to help identify common health conditions early and encourage timely treatment.

A medical team from Kumasi collaborated with the local community medical centre to deliver the programme.

Dr Ibrahim also urged health facilities to create welcoming environments that encourage people to seek medical attention promptly rather than wait until their conditions deteriorate.

He stressed the importance of early diagnosis and routine health screening in preventing complications, reducing treatment costs and improving health outcomes.