Residents of Tanyigbe screened ahead of Yam Festival

Scores of people were on Thursday taken through health checks at Tanyigbe-Kpodzi, as component of the 2012 Yam Festival celebrations of the chiefs and people of the Tanyigbe.

Beneficiaries were screened for diabetes, malaria, blood pressure and eye defects.

The screening was under the aegis of Dr Victor Wutor, Bio-Technologist, and wife, Valerie Wutor, Pharmacist, both based in Canada, with support from Mr Henry Akuaku, a Health Worker in the United States.

Amorin Koto, Assembly Member of the area, who coordinated the health exercise said 30 people found to have diabetes and cardiovascular diseases were referred to the Volta Regional Hospital in Ho for further attention.

He said three physicians, two diabetes nurses, four general nurses and an optometrist were hired for the eight-hour screening exercise.

Mr. Koto said besides medicines, 100 pieces of reading glasses were also dispensed on the recommendation of the optometrist.

A hospital bed with a mattress, donated to Volta Education and Economic Development (VEED), a Ghanaian Charity in Canada by Alberta Health Services also in Canada, was handed over to the Tanyigbe Health Post by Dr Wutor, a Board Member of VEED.

Dr Wutor also gave a personal donation of 100 bags of cement towards the renovation of the Tanyigbe Health Post.

Mr. Koto said other donations in cash and medications came from some other citizens of Tanyigbe living in North America.

He said the screening exercise, which is the third in the series, was instituted to give value to the Yam Festival, now considered not only for merry making but a focal point for planning and executing the development of the area.