The Ear,Nose and Throat (E.N.T) department of the Korle bu Teaching Hospital has organized a free health screening programme for about 137 beneficiaries in the Ga North Municipal Assembly.
The exercise forms part of activities to celebrate 2025 World Head and Neck day which falls July 27 every year. This outreach is aimed at educating the public about the risk factors,symptoms and early detection of head and neck cancers for the people in the Ofankor community in the Ga North municipality.
The Head of E.N.T department Dr.Kenneth Baidoo who led the 15 member clinical team to embark on the exercise in his opening remarks said head and neck cancers are on the rise and creating awareness was a necessity which will help reduce the prevalent rate or eradicate it to help improve the quality of life.
He stated that the free screening programme was collaboration with the Ga North Municipal Hospital and therefore the community should take the opportunity to be screened.
Dr. Baidoo emphasized that smoking shisha and tobacco among the youth, drinking of alcohol and having oral sex are some risk factors associated with head and neck cancers.
Furthermore he highlighted on the importance of practicing a healthy lifestyle by eating balanced meals,hydrating and exercising to boost your immune system.
Dr.Evelyn Nyamekye a Specialist further reinforced this message stating not to ignore when experiencing any of these symptoms: Lump in the neck, a growth in the mouth, swallowing difficulty, changes in your skin, persistent Earache, bringing up blood.
Dr.Agyenim Boateng a Specialist also highlighted on the dangerous use of harmful chemicals and inhalation of toxic substances by some people into their system which could be detrimental to their health thereby having higher risk exposure to head and neck cancers.
During the screening exercise the clinicians extracted impacted wax from some patients as a result providing an instant relief to them.
Referrals were given to people who required further treatment.
The response from the beneficiaries was that of an overwhelming gratitude towards the clinicians and the Hospital as a whole, and stated that more of such gestures are welcomed in the future.
