Accra: Dr. Magdalene Bakari, Lead Specialist for Health Services at Gold Fields Ghana, has taken the initiative to educate residents of Awudua, a host community in the Western Region, about Hepatitis and preventive measures against it. Chronic Hepatitis is notably prevalent in this region, however, Dr. Bakari highlighted the availability of a vaccine for Hepatitis B and the treatment options for Hepatitis C once detected.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Bakari shared this information during a quarterly medical outreach program organized by the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation (GFGF) for communities hosting their operations. The Lead Specialist emphasized the importance of reducing mother-to-child transmission rates, a common method of viral Hepatitis transmission. Gold Fields has shown a longstanding commitment to health, now conducting quarterly health outreach to bring healthcare directly to the communities that have supported them for years.
While Hepatitis was the primary focus, the program also addressed malaria due to its prevalence in the area. Dr. Bakari noted the significant health impacts of malaria, particularly on children, and expressed the Foundation's commitment to working with the community to decrease malaria cases. She also highlighted that many of the health professionals participating in the event were beneficiaries of the GFGF's scholarship scheme, underscoring the Foundation's continued dedication to improving health and well-being in their operational zones.
Mr. Abdel Razak Yakubu, Executive Secretary of the GFGF, stated that the Foundation has been conducting this outreach program for over 25 years. For this event, more than a hundred health professionals and volunteers collaborated to provide healthcare services to the community. A unique aspect of the program is its partnership with Diagnostic Centre Limited, which brought a mini laboratory to assess the residents' health conditions.
Mr. Yakubu expressed gratitude to the Awudua community, especially the chiefs, for their ongoing support, which enables the Foundation to make a positive impact. The outreach, in collaboration with Unilever Ghana and Diagnostic Centre Limited, provided free screenings for Hepatitis B, HIV, tuberculosis, and Ear, Nose, and Throat conditions, among others. Residents also received free medications, and 265 people benefited from registration, renewal, or replacement of their National Health Insurance Scheme cards.
Additionally, Unilever Ghana contributed to personal hygiene education by distributing toothpaste, bathing soap, and laundry soap to the beneficiaries.