Over 3,000 residents of the Techiman Municipality and surrounding areas received free health screenings and treatments during a five-day exercise hosted at the Valley View Adventist (VVA) Hospital. The initiative was organized by the Mid-North Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church in partnership with the U.S.-based “Faithful Path Ministries (FPM).”
The screening covered a wide range of conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, various cancers (breast, prostate, oral), eye diseases (like glaucoma), malaria, typhoid fever, and joint pain. A 17-member medical team comprising doctors, dentists, and nurses from the United States and Mexico worked alongside the local hospital staff.
Pastor Dr. Paul Amo Kyeremeh, President of the Mid-North Conference, requested the aid to reduce preventable deaths in the area. Dr. Dona Cooper-Dockery, President of FPM, noted that common and alarming issues observed were glaucoma, breast and prostate cancers, high blood pressure, and liver issues. She attributed the high number of eye problems to a shortage of ophthalmologists.
Dr. Cooper-Dockery stressed that many cases were preventable and that severe complications arose because patients lacked regular check-ups and awareness. She urged the public to undergo regular screenings, emphasizing that early detection is critical for managing “silent killers” like diabetes and high blood pressure, and for effectively treating cancers. Ophthalmologist Dr. Javier Castillo specifically highlighted the need for routine eye exams to prevent blindness from prevalent conditions like glaucoma. Dr. Cooper-Dockery concluded by noting that the average Ghanaian life expectancy of 64 years is partly due to the lack of education on disease prevention and healthy living.
