The exercise which formed part of the churchs health and sanitation outreach programmes sought to provide basic health services to the inmates.

 

A team of health professionals from the Ankaase Methodist Faith Healing Hospital, one of the 10 health facilities in the dioceses were on hand to examine the over 200 inmates.

 

They were also educated on how to adopt healthy lifestyles and avoid practices that could expose them to diseases.

 

Dr. Kofi Sefah Nkansah who led the team, said aside some individual ailments, skin rashes and insomnia were the most common conditions amongst the inmates.

 

Another disturbing trend, he noted, was high blood pressure amongst inmates below 40 years which he described as worrying.

 

He said it was not normal for people below 40 years to suffer from high blood pressure, adding that the medical team would liaise with the staff of the infirmary at the camp to monitor their conditions and refer them to health facilities if necessary.

 

The Very Rev. Dr. Charles Kingsley Coffie, Coordinator of Health and Prison Services of the dioceses, said the exercise was to extend a helping hand to the needy.

 

He said the church did not only focus on preaching the gospel for salvation, but also contributed to the well-being of society especially the less privileged.

 

He disclosed that the church had established a close relationship with all the four prisons within the Kumasi dioceses where the church periodically provided various philanthropic and health services to the inmates.

 

Deputy Superintendent of Prisons (DSP) John Fidelia Atslafu, the Second in Command at the camp, commended the church for the exercise.

 

He said the Methodist Church had been of immense support to the camp over the years and called on other religious bodies to emulate them.

 

GNA