Radio Univers, Legon, organises free medical outreach programme

Accra, Nov. 19, GNA - The Radio Univers, a community radio station on University of Ghana, Legon on Saturday organised free medical outreach programme on the campus for the students and workers of the University.

In all about 300 students and workers availed themselves of the outreach programme carried out by 30 medical students from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

The students checked for sickle cell status; haemoglobin level; blood group, weight, height measurement and body mass index of each person.

Those diagnosed with problems were counselled and advised to seek further medical attention.

The Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Clifford N. B. Tagoe who participated in the screening exercise, said he was overwhelmed by the students' participation and called for more of such outreach programmes to be conducted.

In an interview with GNA, the President of the University of Ghana Medical Students Association, Mr Alfred Kodwo Osei-Bonsu said the screening exercise revealed that most of the female students had low haemoglobin levels and explained that it was because they lost blood during their menstrual period and did not eat sufficient nutritive food to make up for the loss of blood. Mr Osei-Bonsu warned the students to refrain from eating too much fried rice, since it was carbohydrate based and filled with oil and recommended the eating of more leafy food to enhance their nutritional status.

The Co-ordinator of the Programme, Ms. Adisa Lansah of radio Univers said she was motivated to embark on the outreach programme because she was once admitted to the 37 Military Hospital and during diagnosis she could not tell her blood group. She said she felt ashamed and did not want other students to fall into similar predicament.

Ms Lansah said a similar programme would be organized for the food vendors at the "Bush Canteen" on the University Campus. Radio Univers expressed its gratitude to "Living Room" at East Legon; Basement Restaurant, Marie's Mart at the Central Cafeteria and Agronet Internet Caf=E9, all on Legon Campus; Cadbury Ghana Limited and Cocoa Processing Company Limited for sponsoring the programme.