Van Moorhouse Foundation holds free medical screening at Nzulezu

Van Moorhouse Foundation (VMF), a nonprofit organization committed to enhancing people's lives especially the vulnerable through the provision of needs in impoverished communities, has conducted a free medical screening for over 250 inhabitants of Nzulezu community, in the Jomoro district of the Western Region.?

The beneficiaries made up of pregnant women, nursing mothers, the aged, including women and children, were thoroughly screened for malaria, hepatitis B including some communicable diseases, which affects some people in the area.

The recipients also took advantage of the opportunity to have their blood pressure level (BP), sugar levels, including body weight and height examined.

They were also counselled on how to ensure good dietary behaviour, including a healthy lifestyle at all times.

The free medical screening was executed by a team of health professionals drawn from various health facilities in the country.

Van Moorhouse Foundation, in response to the medical needs of the people of the Nzulezu community dwellers, after they were tested, presented some medications including treated mosquito nets to help prevent bites while sleeping.

Other items include books for the use of pupils in community school, used clothes for children, as well some assorted items for their daily use.

The community benefited from the generosity of VMF donors, from the medical screening to the other items donated.

The gesture according to Mr Michael Kwame Darkwah, Project Manager of Van Moorhouse Foundation, forms part of measures to improve healthcare delivery in the area, upon realization that the inhabitants of Nzulezu community are faced with numerous health concerns which needs addressing.

Michael said “My wife and I came here in January for holidays, and we felt the situation here needed some help. After being told of their challenges, we saw the need for the medical screening so I spoke to the foundation which I am a Trustee of (VMF) and I was put in charge for this particular project”.

A Medical Doctor at Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi-Takoradi, Western Region, who was in charge of the entire screening process in an interview described the exercise as ‘very helpful’.

While commending Van Moorhouse Foundation for the gesture, she called for replication of the exercise to ensure that the community people are totally free of malaria and hepatitis B, which has emerged as the top major health challenges for the community dwellers which they've been battling with in recent time.

“I feel this community needs a whole lot of help. If only they could have a health facility that could be based here, they could have some nurses or doctors who could be available so that their health needs can be met".

For his part, Emmanuel Delali Genni, a medical laboratory scientist at Doctors in Service Clinics, Takoradi branch, expressed delight about the comportment shown by the inhabitants coupled with the coordinated manner the exercise was conducted by VMF team of volunteers.

Giving his account about the entire exercise, he alluded to the fact that the Nzulezu community has a lot of health concerns which ought to be addressed with regular medical screenings including thorough investigations into the health status of the community folks. His views corroborated with that of the Dr in charge, who equally expressed similar sentiments.

“I think, there should be more screening exercises to be done and we will need a lot of clinicians to support in one doctor to patient consultations with necessary tests, a whole lot of tests need to be conducted.”

He further said, “Per this particular exercise, it gives a broad knowledge on a lot of things we would have to do for Nzulezu going forward”.

Mr. Genni therefore used the occasion to call on all well-meaning Ghanaians, corporate institutions, Non-Governmental Organisations(NGOs) and CSOs including the government to come on board and assist the community in its quest to access proper health delivery at all times.

Nzulezu, a town in the Jomoro District of the Western Region with a population of 550 is regarded as one of Ghana’s tourist sites. One unique feature of the town is, nearly every structure is built on stilts. Despite its tourism prowess, the community is faced with serious sanitation problem as a result of lack of proper disposable waste systems. However, it’s so sad to know that in the face of serious health issues which inhabitants have to grapple with on daily basis, the community cannot boast of a health post to cater for their needs in times of difficulty.

Expressing his views on the health needs of the Nzulezu people, Richard Nweah, Youth Organiser for the area, bemoans neglect on part of the government as a contributory factor, to the woes of the community folks.

Citing an instance where the town folks believe Member of Parliament(MP) for the area, Mr. Paul Essien has let them down in fulfilling his promise, he said: “our Honorable MP came here about 2 weeks ago and he brought some health facility equipment which he assured us that in no time, a nurse will be coming to stay in the town and regularly cater for their health needs. As at now, we are yet to see any sign of the hope he has given us about that nurse”.

Richard Nweah therefore called on government to move in swiftly and help build a clinic as well as provide the community with health professional(s) who will be responsible for attending to the health needs of the people on a daily basis.

He also appealed to government to help build a cemented rubbish dump(platform) for the community to aid effective waste management as a panacea to end the sanitation problem it is faced with.

The free medical screening was conducted by Van Moorhouse Foundation with kind support from Hydrate Ghana Limited, S&G International (US)including VMF cherished Volunteers,Trustee’s,Friends and Patrons.