FREE MEDICAL TESTS

A free medical screening exercise on diabetes and blood pressure has taken place at Nima in Accra. It was organised by the Korle-Bu branch of the Ghana Muslim Students Association in conjunction with the Islamic Council for Development and Humanitarian Services. In all, nearly 200 people benefited from the exercise. A member of the 26 paramedical students form the School of Hygiene, Mr.. Munkaila Ibrahim, said 80 cases of diabetes, 75 cases of hypertension and 39 ordinary sicknesses were referred to hospitals and polyclinics. The leader of the team, Mr.. Sumaila Adam, advised parents to cut the fingernails of their children regularly, wash their hands well before and after meals, and cover all cooked foods before they are eaten so as to maintain good health. The Chairman of the Islamic Council, Sheikh Mustapha-Ibrahim, hinted that the exercise is going to be a periodic affair. He announced that plans are afoot to supply free drugs to would-be patients in future. The Co-ordinator of the exercise Alhaji Alhassan Abdulai, said the programme which is to benefit both Christians and Muslims, is the Islamic Council's contribution towards the attainment of health for all by the year 2000. gri