Over 3,000 residents of the Techiman Municipality and surrounding communities in the Brong Ahafo Region received free health screenings and treatments during a five-day health exercise organized by the Mid-North Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church at the Valley View Adventist (VVA) Hospital in Techiman.
The screening addressed a wide range of health issues, including diabetes, hypertension, high blood pressure, infections, joint pain, various cancers, eye diseases, malaria, and dental problems. The effort was supported by a 17-member medical team of doctors, dentists, and nurses from the United States and Mexico, who worked alongside local hospital staff.
The initiative followed a request by Pastor Dr. Paul Amo Kyeremeh, President of the Mid-North Conference of the SDA, to assist the municipality with health screenings to reduce preventable deaths and the spread of diseases. Pastor Kyeremeh reached out to the “Faithful Path Ministries (FPM)” foundation in the US, which responded by sending the medical team to the area.
At the conclusion of the exercise, Dr. Dona Cooper-Dockery, President of FPM, reported that common health concerns in the region included glaucoma, breast and prostate cancers, oral cancers, high blood pressure, and liver issues. She attributed the rising number of eye problems to a shortage of ophthalmologists. The team also observed a significant number of cases of breast, stomach, and prostate cancers, as well as malaria and typhoid fever.
Dr. Cooper-Dockery emphasized that many of the cases were preventable, with some patients suffering from complications due to lack of regular check-ups and awareness. She particularly highlighted that diseases like breast and prostate cancers could be treated effectively if detected early. She urged the public to regularly visit health facilities for screenings, warning that conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, known as “silent killers,” could be managed with early detection.
Dr. Cooper-Dockery also noted that the average life expectancy in Ghana is 64 years, which she attributed to the lack of education on healthy living and disease prevention.
Ophthalmologist Dr. Javier Castillo, who treated numerous patients with eye problems, highlighted glaucoma as a prevalent issue in the region. He stressed the importance of regular eye exams to prevent blindness from such treatable conditions.
