The Information Services Department (ISD) in the Obuasi district in collaboration with Anglogold Ashanti has successfully organized a series of programmes to mark this year’s edition of World Sickle Cell Day in Obuasi.
The programme which took place between Monday, 19th June and Friday, 23rd June, 2017 was under the theme: “Know your sickle cell status now” included a walk through the principal streets of Obuasi , a free health screening which included sickling test at the Obuasi Central mosque.
Commenting on the rationale behind the programme, the Municipal Information Officer for the Obuasi Municipal Assembly, Mr. Sampson Manu said statistics from the Obuasi Health Directorate points to the fact that between 2015 and 2016, a total of 436 and 936 people respectively reported the disease in the Municipality.
The figure he said represented more than 100% surge.
This, he said, coupled with low public education called for the intervention of ISD, obuasi office.
With funds mainly through sponsorship from corporate institutions such as Anglogold Ashanti, Ghana Revenue Authority – Obuasi, Ghana Commercial Bank, Cofkans Hotel, Dr. Patrick Boakye Yiadom, Member of Parliament for the Obuasi East constituency, Medilab Diagnostic Services and the support of the Obuasi Municipal Assembly, more than 100 people benefited from the free screening exercise which was the first of its kind in the Municipality.
A Community Relations Officer of Anglogold Ashanti, Edmund Oduro Agyei also noted that AGA partnered ISD, obuasi to organize the sickle cell programme because the mining company prioritizes health issues in the Municipality.
Sickle cell is a group of disorders that affects hemoglobin, the molecule in the red blood cell that delivers oxygen to cells throughout the body. The signs and symptoms of sickle cell disease usually begin in early childhood and it includes repeated infection and periodic episodes of pain.
It is estimated that about 2% of newly born babies in Ghana are affected by the disease whilst over 95% of children born with the disease in Africa die before the age of 5 years.
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By: Jean Asantewaah Oduro/ISD