HAP Foundation to organise free glucose testing

Independent investigations conducted by HAP Foundation Ghana, an NGO has confirmed the upsurge of diabetes cases in the country.

It has therefore, rolled out series of free health screening and testing as well as a seminar in selected communities to help reduce the menace.

Mr. Edusei Boateng, Project Co-ordinator of the Foundation told Ghana News Agency in Accra on Thursday that the event is being organised with the support of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice.

The free health screening exercise for 2012 would be held at Achimota, Dome, St John’s, Amasaman and Ofankor in the Greater Accra Region on Saturday, May 19.

Mr Boateng said the World Health Organisation in its 2010 Report said diabetes could become an epidemic if pragmatic steps are not undertaken to halt the upsurge.**

He blamed the situation on inadequate awareness creation on the causes of the health threat, as well as unhealthy lifestyle and poor feeding habit.

Mr. Boateng expressed worry that glucose testing was not part of the normal out-patient department checklists conducted on a patient, stressing that it was only blood pressure and temperature records that were often taken of a patient at the hospital.

He urged prospective beneficiaries of the health screening to turn in their numbers for the free glucose testing, and advised them not to eat before visiting the centres for the exercise.**