US Doctors Organise Health Outreach

A caregiver at one of the orphanages receiving free eye care services

Health professionals based in the United States of America (USA) have begun a health outreach in various parts of the country.

The group, Ghanaian Association for Medical Aid (GAMA), whose members reside in the US, started off the free medical services at the SOS Children’s Village in Tema, where children from three orphanages were examined by a team of ophthalmologists, nephrologists, psychologists, nurses and social workers.

Medications and free spectacles were given to beneficiaries after examination, with those needing surgical procedures being sponsored by GAMA to have it done locally.

The children were taken through cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training in order to prepare them for any emergency before help comes.

Dr.  Andrew Baddo, president of GAMA, who spoke with journalists, said the team saw that there was need for medical care back home.

“All of us being in the medical profession realised that we need to come back we have to reach back home and care for people,” he observed.

He further explained that the team discovered from the outreach diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and high cholesterol, which they were able to diagnose and address.

Akosua Serwah Boadu, vice president GAMA and a family nurse practitioner, explained that the team decided to focus on the health needs of children, especially the less privileged.      

She said the CPR training was important for the children, as emergency healthcare delivery in Ghana is not very effective.

Madam Boadu indicated that with the knowledge of underserved communities, the team would be moving out to other areas like Ashaiman to offer free healthcare.

 “We will take care of them and give them free medication and at least guide them in the health,” she added.

This is the second outreach in the country after a successful first event.

By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri A