Mandela Washington Fellows Organize Free Health Screening and Career Mall for Aboabo-Kesse Residents

A free health examination and job fair organized by the Mandela Washington Fellows Association of Ghana benefited over 400 residents of Aboabo-Kesse, a small town in the Atwima Kwawoma District of the Ashanti Region on the 21st of September, 2023.

The organization, which is well-known for its significant volunteer work, has improved the lives of thousands, if not millions, of Ghanaians all around the nation.

The association's president, Dr. Laud Anthony Basing, noted that different regions within the organization each have their own set of activities.

They made the decision to host a free health screening and career development event for the locals of Aboabo-Kesse as part of National Volunteer Day. 

The project was especially crucial since a fellow had obtained funding from World Connect to open a community health center; as a result, interacting with community people and evaluating their health became essential.

Dr. Basing noticed that the area had a high incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and stroke.

In particular, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, and even malignancies are extremely common in these places, and when we spoke with the district head of health services, for example, we realized this, he continued. "Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) is a major problem in these communities," he added.

In order to offer locals instruction and give them economic self-sufficiency, the project also featured business clinics, land concerns, agriculture, and other components.

The Fabulous Woman Network's Ama Duncan said the program aimed to raise awareness of the medical center and persuade locals to get checkups.

She emphasized the initiative's goal of giving back to society as the driving force behind it.

Grateful beneficiaries thanked the group and its affiliates for educating them about their health state and offering potential treatment alternatives.

"What I can say is that, may God bless you so much, I'm really happy, whatever you spent here may it be replenished," a contented inhabitant named Yaa Chituah said.

The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), founded in 2010 by former US President Barack Obama, intends to support the development of the next generation of African leaders through the Mandela Washington Fellowship. Young African leaders are sent to the United States as part of the fellowship program, which was established in 2014, for six weeks of leadership development and mentoring in a variety of areas, such as business and entrepreneurship, civic participation, and public administration.

Source: Orange FM/Fatawu Bayaga- Kumasi