Firm Health Ghana Foundation, a Tarkwa-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) has held a community impacting programme dubbed 'Dine with the Aged and Medical Outreach,' for senior citizens of the Beyin Electoral Area. The exercise was sponsored by the Ghana National Gas Company for aged persons residing in communities including Benyin, Nzulezo, Ngralekazo, Ekabaku and Meagyina. It focused on their health challenges and was successful in reaching out to about 400 people from age 40 years upwards with diverse medical services free of charge. Participants, especially those over 65 years old, had their blood and urine screened for diabetes and their blood pressures checked. They also received counselling, and those who reported ailments received treatment. Mr Joseph Ackah, an Assistant Manager at the Community Relations and Corporate Social Relations of Ghana Gas, thanked Firm Health Ghana Foundation for the proposal for such a community impacting project, saying that the company's sponsorship of the prog ramme, was an indication of its good intentions for the people within its catchment area. He said the company had undertaken several other community impacting projects for the people of Nzema, especially those within their catchment area. Amongst the interventions were the institutionalisation of a Health Insurance Scheme for the people within their catchment area, distribution of solar lanterns to communities which were not connected to the national electricity grid in the Jomoro Municipality, and the training of 45 youth in Nzema as a corrosion control group to work on the rusted part of the Ghana Gas Plant, amongst others. Dr Joseph Darko, the Director of Medical Services of Firm Health Ghana Foundation said the senior citizens faced peculiar health challenges by virtue of aging and rather than being supported, were often left alone. 'It will not be out of place for policy makers to offer free medical services to our senior citizens,' and said such programmes sat well with the Foundation's core pillars of advocacy and wellness. Dr Sylvester Akpah, the Director of Operations of the Foundation, said the good collaboration between Firm Health Ghana Foundation and Ghana National Gas Company, had led to a very successful programme. He explained that beyond the immediate impact of dining and providing care for the aged, the programme would also help the community and important stakeholders such as the Ghana National Gas Company to understand the health status and needs of the aged to enable them to support with the necessary interventions. He thanked the participants and appreciated all other partners for their diverse support to make the programme a success and encouraged more positive collaboration between important stakeholders for the benefit of societies nationwide. All the participants were treated to tasty and nutritious local and continental dishes from Donsey Kitchen and Grills. Source: Ghana News Agency