Statistics provided by the medical team from the Ministry of Health and the Ga South Municipal Hospital (Akawe) in the Greater Accra Region indicates that majority “about 70% of market men and women at the Dome Market have high blood pressure and diabetes”.
Dr. Jarvis Abilla, the Medical Superintendent at the Ga South Municipal Hospital who led the team, attributed the increase in these two diseases to longer hours of sitting and the inability of traders to attend regular medical checks due to the nature of their jobs.
He said the condition of two of the traders was such high that the team wanted them to be sent to the hospital since there was a waiting ambulance but “the women declined to go to the hospital”.
These came up during the monthly health screening exercise dubbed “How Well Are You” by popular Gospel musician, Philipa Baafi at the Dome market in the Ga East Municipality.
The programme was heavily patronised as most of the traders had gathered as early as 5 am to be screened although the event was billed to start at 9 am.
Supported by MTN, GOIL Ghana Limited, Tobinco Pharmaceuticals, Anadwo Ye De Mosquito Coil, Tinatette Herbal, the “How Well Are You” free health screening screened over five hundred people on Blood Pressure, Glucose/ Sugar level, Malaria and Body Mass Index (BMI) which are noted to be the common ailments among a number of market women.
Philipa Baafi, also performed Physiotherapy treatment for some patients and later entertained her audience with some of her hit songs. There was also health talk for participants to know the need to embark on regular checkups and basic health tips that will enable them to stay away from sicknesses.
The Minister of State in charge of Procurement at the Presidency, Sarah Adwoa Safo who is also the Member of Parliament for Dome Kwabenya as well as some constituency executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) graced the occasion.
Madam Adwoa Sarfo, who is also the Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, told the women to take a serious look at their health in order to live longer and healthy.
She announced plans by the government to roll out soft loan schemes to enable them to expand their business as traders.