On March 16, 2019, a group of students from the School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Ghana, Legon embarked on an outreach to Abeka-lapaz “trotro” station to screen drivers and "mates". The purpose of the outreach was geared towards a slogan “healthy life, healthy ride’’. The decision taken by the group to make the screening free was to get more of the drivers screened and sensitized on occupational health and its importance. Statistical information from National Road safety commission indicated that most road traffic accidents were associated with breakdown of vehicles, over speeding and the likes with less attention on the health status of the Drivers. The students, based on their knowledge of the essence of drivers, acknowledged the importance of the drivers’ health. Drivers; with their busy schedule in search of ends meet neglect their health until conditions get worse before they report to the hospital. With this in mind, the group decided to bring health care services to the doorstep of the drivers.

A GROUP OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY STUDENTS ON A COMMUNITY OUTREACH

 

The leader said, based on WHO publication on March 2015 on “the guidelines for the prevention, care and treatment of persons with chronic hepatitis B”, revealed that hepatitis B was a highly infectious disease and ten times infectious than HIV. About one third of the world’s population have evidence of past or present infection with hepatitis B. In Ghana the prevalence of the disease is 8 – 12% according to Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This is worrying due to fast spread of the disease. The drivers and "mates" were targeted to be screened of hepatitis B because they had constant interaction with people and are at higher risk of getting infected with the Hepatitis B virus.

 

A LOCAL ABEKA-LAPAZ HIGHWAY DRIVER READING A SNELLEN CHART

 

The free health screening began at exactly 9:30am, with drivers and mates trooping in to be screened after an education on Hepatitis B. The screening involved checking of blood pressure, Body Mass Index, fat analysis, Random Blood Sugar, Hepatitis and visual acuity. The free health screening was brought to a closure at 2:10 pm. A total of Ninety two drivers and mates were screened in all. Out of the total screened, 11 persons were reactive to Hepatitis B. Also eye condition detected were pinguecula (25), Glaucoma (11), presbyopia (3), allergic conjunctivitis (3), and Pterygium (2).

 

A CLIENT BEING SCREENED FOR HEPATITIS B

 

CLIENTS BEING SCREENED AT VARIOUS STAGES OF THE SCREENING PROCESS

 

SCREENING, COUNSELING AND EDUCATION TO CLIENTS AT VARIOUS STAGES