The Haven of Love Children's Foundation recently conducted a six-day health outreach in five rural communities in the Nabdam District of Ghana's Upper East Region. The exercise, which was sponsored by the Member of Parliament for Nabdam, Dr Mark Kurt Nawaane, provided free eye, blood pressure and diabetes screening to residents. A total of 1,447 people were screened for eye problems, while 1,504 residents had their blood pressure checked.
The outreach, led by Samuel Nana-Bekai Djirackor, founder and chief executive of the foundation, also included registration and renewal of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) cards for residents. In addition to eye screening, 628 people were tested for diabetes and 985 received general medical consultations. The foundation's team also supported 88 Persons with Disabilities and identified 199 residents who required eye or cataract surgery.
Many residents who participated in the screening had never had their eyes examined or their blood sugar checked before. According to Daniel Mensah, an optometrist with the Regional Hospital who was part of the healthcare team, many residents had little understanding of the eye conditions they were living with and had come to treat the symptoms as normal. The team identified several cataract cases among elderly residents, some of which had already caused partial blindness.
The Nabdam outreach is a significant example of a growing trend in Ghana's underserved districts, where private individuals, NGOs and lawmakers partner to deliver basic screening services that residents might otherwise go without. The Haven of Love Children's Foundation says it remains open to partnering with individuals, Members of Parliament, ministers, churches, Muslim groups and other organisations to extend healthcare access further.
For residents of Nabdam, a district in the Upper East Region, cost and distance can be significant barriers to routine screening for conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. The NHIS registration and renewal offered alongside the screening is also significant, as it reduces out-of-pocket costs for enrolled members seeking care at public and accredited private facilities.
One beneficiary, Patience Dunpau B, a resident of Lowry, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to get medical advice and treatment without having to pay. She underwent eye screening, consulted a doctor and received medication, and appealed for the foundation to return, noting that many residents in the area were unable to attend this round of screening.
While no timeline has been given for a follow-up outreach to Nabdam, the demand for further screening remains high among residents who missed this round. The sources do not indicate when, or whether, the 199 residents booked for eye and cataract surgery will have their procedures carried out, or at which facility. The Haven of Love Children's Foundation's efforts have earned recognition, with Samuel Nana-Bekai Djirackor winning the 2024 JoyNews Impact Makers Award in the Health and Social Welfare category.
Key points
- The Haven of Love Children's Foundation screened 1,447 people for eye problems and checked blood pressure for 1,504 residents in Nabdam District.
- The outreach also included registration and renewal of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) cards for residents.
- The foundation identified 199 residents who required eye or cataract surgery and booked them for the procedure.
