A General Practitioner at St Michael's Specialist Hospital in Lapaz, Dr Catherine Amofa, has urged Ghanaians to make regular visits to healthcare facilities for routine checkups.

Dr Catherine Amofa emphasised that conditions such as hypertension pose a significant risk, silently leading to various complications like organ failure. Consequently, she stressed the importance of regular check-ups to address this potential threat.

During a health screening event aimed at promoting awareness of hypertension, hepatitis B, and diabetes, Dr Amofa provided the advice to attendees. The event was organised by St. Michael's Specialist Hospital, and Dr Amofa shared her insights on the importance of regular check-ups during the occasion.

She elaborated on the potential consequences of hypertension, highlighting that hypertension can affect vital organs such as the brain, leading to stroke, the heart, leading to heart failure, and the kidneys, resulting in kidney failure.

“It can even give you neuropathic diseases that involve the nerves and blood vessels. It can also even go as far to destroy your eyesight,” she added.

Dr Amofah, hypertension is relatively common among individuals of African descent, including Africans. However, based on the screenings conducted, it was revealed that sedentary lifestyles, poor dietary habits, and inadequate rest were significant contributing factors to the development of hypertension.

She, therefore, encouraged the citizenry to watch their diet, exercise regularly, rest adequately and hydrate properly.

“The Ghanaian diet is tailored in such a way that if you do not take care, you will hardly have a balanced meal, and the fats and oils as well as salt contents of most of our foods as stable foods are actually quite high.

“You do not have to join a gym to exercise. Just a little bit of cardio a few minutes a day makes quite a difference,” the General Practitioner stated.

She said about 50 per cent of the patients who had been screened had hypertension whilst 50 per cent tested positive for Hepatitis B.

Dr Richard Anongura, a Medical Officer at St Michael’s Specialist Hospital, said the screening exercise was to raise awareness about the common chronic diseases that people ignored.

He said Hypertension, Diabetes, Obesity and Hepatitis B were endemic among the populace, therefore, highlighting and raising awareness and providing free screening were important.

Dr Anongura said that over 200 people were screened yesterday and some were referred for further checks.

He said the Hospital would offer free consultation in July for all Ghanaians who would walk to the facility.

Dr Lilian Mpabanti, Acting Medical Director of the Hospital, commended the Health Facility Regulatory Agency (HeFRA), the Okaikwei Central Member of Parliament and the Okaikwei North Assembly for their enormous support of the Hospital.