Ziavi farmers abandon farms for medical screening exercise

Hundreds of farmers at Ziavi near Ho on Wednesday chose a medical screening exercise in town over their daily farming activities. The farming community, some 10 kilometres away from Ho, has no clinic. Many inhabitants depend on herbalists with few braving the tortuous journey to Ho for medical attention. A large number of farmers rushed to the venue of the screening exercise from their farms having been called by relatives and friends on the arrival of a medical team from the United Kingdom. The exercise was under the aegis of Operation Rescue Africa Incorporated in conjunction with Word and Spirit Ministries in Ghana. Medical practitioners made up of five doctors, two nurses and two laboratory technicians offered free medical screening and treatment. Most of the people were said to be suffering from high blood pressure. Few others were given eye glasses after they were diagnosed of various eye diseases. Chiefs of the community were also screened and treated at their palaces. Togbe Kwaku Ayim IV, Paramount Chief of Ziavi, appealed to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to send health personnel to the community to operate a clinic built by the people some 20 years ago. He said that would help save the lives of pregnant women and children who have to climb hills and descend valleys severally before accessing health facilities in Ho. Reverend Okechy Gilbert, Founder of Operation Rescue Africa Incorporated and Word and Spirit Ministries, told the GNA that the outreach was to attend to the physical needs of the people. He said his outfit would also give out relief items to four communities around Ho including Ziavi.