February is a month of love and the 14th day of this month set aside as St. Valentine’s day is a special day that most people show love to their loved ones. Some go on a date to have fun. Others buy chocolate, flowers, cards with wonderful and lovely words inscribed on it, etc., for their loved ones to show how they love and cherish them.
The Medical Laboratory Science Students Association of the University for Development Studies (UDS) decided to celebrate this year’s valentines day by organizing a free health screening for the locals of Dungu community as part of its 4th Annual health week celebration. As our (MELSSA) slogan goes SERVICE TO HUMANITY, it is our utmost desire and passion to serve humanity in any little way we can by seeing to the health needs of people in order to put smiles on the faces of many. Dungu is a community in Tamale Metropolitan District in the Northern region of Ghana.
The health committee decided to screen the people for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis and also check the blood groups for them. Because of the charges involved in checking one’s health status at the hospital and moreover considering the financial status of the people, they do not bother themselves to go the hospital to check their status. Furthermore, some do not even know the essence of knowing their status with regards to hepatitis B, hepatitis C, etc., because they know nothing about them.
We began the exercise by educating them about the need to know their status with regards to the various tests we were conducting for them. This was done by the president of the association, Mr. ATP Awuni. who is a member of the association also offered his service by helping in the screening exercise. He and
also translated the words of Mr. Awuni to the local dialect for the people which is Dagbani
translating the message of Mr. Awuni to the community members
translating the message of the association president to the locals
During the exercise, a certain woman made a comment that if we were taking money we would have counted only 2 people for the entire process. This is clearly evident that indeed they would by no means bother themselves to go to the hospital to undertake such exercise whiles they could use that money to feed their family. Hence, this free health screening for the locals of Dungu is a commendable act by the health committee of the association of medical laboratory science students of the University for Development Studies of which I am a member.
This is how I celebrated my Valentine’s day, by lending a helping hand in a free health screening exercise for the locals of Dungu community in the Northern region of Ghana. How did you celebrate yours? Get interactive at the comment section and let the world know how awesome you celebrated this year’s Val’s day.