Massive Turn-out at Laterbiokoshie Stake Health Screening

The leadership of Laterbiokoshie Stake (congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are organized geographically and members attend worship services near their home. Each member belongs to a stake, which is similar to a Catholic diocese. The leader of a stake is called the stake president). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints collaborated with the Public Health Division of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital on Saturday to offer free health screening to members of the Church.

The event saw Church members from Laterbiokoshie receiving information on health-related issues and undergoing a battery of tests from trained medical practitioners.

Members who participated in the health screening were taken through a series of tests including blood sugar level, high cholesterol, diabetes, an eye examination, blood pressure monitoring and viral hepatitis. All who took part were grateful to have received a level of healthcare traditionally inaccessible to them.

Speaking in an interview with Mormon Newsroom Ghana, Dr. Philip Amoo, Head of Public Health Division, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, explained that as practitioners from the preventive and promotional wing of health, their main focus is to partner with organizations to help conduct screening and also educate the public on the preventive measures.

He further stated that “looking at how people are dying lamentably in the hospitals, we have resolved to stop inviting people to the hospitals but rather move to the public spaces to create the health consciousness of people.”

Ignatius Baidoo, stake president for the Laterbiokoshie Stake said the initiative was aimed at resolving the numerous health issues that are brought to the attention of the stake presidency.

He added, “This initiative has helped reactivate some less active members in the stake and I am happy. We are hoping that the bishops will adopt this at the ward level.”

The initiative according to President Baidoo, will be done periodically to ensure that members stay healthy to live a fullfilled life.