The Deputy Director in Charge of Diaspora Affairs at the Office of the President, Dr. Nadia Adongo Fynn, has organized a free health screening for the aged in her constituency, Bolgatanga East, in the Upper East Region.
The event, held at the Gambigdo Health Center, saw over 500 elderly residents eager to take advantage of the health services offered.
Dr. Nadia has been organizing the initiative since the year 2018 through the ‘Ntuune Pogyua Foundation’, a foundation she formed to cater to the needs of the elderly in memory of her late father, Adombila Afebia.
“The name of the foundation is the nickname of my dad. He became known as ‘Ntuune’ (ready to serve) rather than his actual name. And so, when he passed away at the age of 105, we decided to set up a foundation in his name and also bring awareness to the aged. He was lucky to get to that age, and dementia set in, and some of us, the children who knew what he was going through, were able to manage him.”
As a gerontologist, Dr. Nadia said she is passionate about promoting the health and welfare of the elderly. With the support of volunteers, she promised to embark on monthly visits to the aged in the constituency, emphasizing the importance of preventive care and early detection in ensuring a good quality of life for the ageing population.
The free health screening covered a range of essential health areas, including blood pressure, blood sugar levels, cholesterol, dementia, malaria, hepatitis B, and hypertension, among others. The beneficiaries were fed, and those with expired health insurance cards had their cards renewed, and those without the cards were registered for free.
Mathew Silas Amoah, the NPP parliamentary candidate for the Bolgatanga East who joined the health screening exercise, commended the Deputy Director in Charge of Diaspora Affairs at the Office of the President for her love for the aged.
“I think the health screening is something I wish we could do every month because when you look around the constituency, the poverty level is high. People are sick and they can’t afford to go for checkups. And the good part of the exercise is that she makes a follow-up, and if there is a disease after the screening, she takes care of them,” he stated.
A senior citizen, James Amisiya, thanked Dr. Nadia and her foundation for the initiative, noting the significance of the health screening in addressing the health needs of the elderly, many of whom may face challenges accessing healthcare services.