Old age is a blessing and a heritage from God and it is a stage we will all attain naturally one day. On the 17th of December, 2021, De Pull up Foundation organized a project for the aged dubbed, “A Dance with the Aged” for people ranging from 55 years and above. This event took place at Bukom Lion’s forecourt, Camara in the Ablekumah sub-metro in Accra. It kickstarted at 7:00 am and ended at 5:00 pm.
The project saw about 1,116 of the aged who trooped in for the various sessions we had prepared for them. To boost their morale, we served them breakfast with assorted bread from Paanowura and lunch using fortune rice. The purpose of “A Dance with the Aged” was to create a platform where our old men and women within the stipulated age frame could have a thorough health screening, receive medical advice from health experts, receive education on their health and eating habits, general wellness, to provide them with free national health insurance (NHIS) cards to enable them to access proper health care and to renew the NHIS cards for those with expired ones.
At least, with the NHIS cards, we are hopeful that their healthcare would be subsidized and we would have helped bridge the gap between older people and their ability to access quality healthcare in the Ablekumah sub metro and country at large. Subsequently, the project sought to entertain our aged and also create an atmosphere where they could socialize among their peers. By doing so, they would rid themselves of boredom and loneliness. During the project, each age got the chance to go for general counseling, dental screening, eye screening, ear, nose, and throat (ENT) screening, laboratory investigation, physiotherapy assessment, mental health assessment, and medical consultation among others.
Mamprobi Polyclinic conducted the entire general health screening with the eye screening done by My Eyes Center. A total of 306 people were screened. 238 were females and 96 were males. 34 of them were diagnosed hypertensive (that is 22 females and 12 males), 7 people were diagnosed with diabetes and 15 people were diagnosed with malaria. For the Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) screening, a total of 306 people were screened. Out of this, 36 cases of Allergic Rhinitis, 11 cases of Otitis media, and 55 cases of impacted wax were recorded. For the dental screening, a total of 306 people were screened. 163 of them had Gingivitis, 59 of them had dental carries, 38 of them had Periodontitis and 70 of them had missing/avulsed teeth.
With the National Health Insurance Scheme registration, we had the opportunity to get new registrants on board as well as renew expired health insurance cards for the aged. Hence, for the new registrants, we had a sum of 403 people. 101 were males whereas 302 were females. Concurrently, we renewed the expired health insurance cards of 360 people. 160 were males and 200 were females. In all, the new registrants and card renewals summed up to 763. To make this project see the light of day, we had sponsorship from some corporate entities, health facilities, and businesses. We had sponsorship from Wilmar Africa Limited, the producers of phytol cooking oil, fortune margarine, frytol seasoning tablet, Jamaa soap, Jamaa detergent, Alife soap, and the importers of the Fortune rice brand.
We also got sponsorship from MTN Ghana, My Eyes Center, Mamprobi Hospital, National Health Insurance Scheme, Efie Shito, JN products, Paanowura, Accra Metropolitan Assembly Juice, and More. To make this yuletide a memorable one for the aged, we gave each a package with about two –four 1kg of fortune rice, 10 pieces of sachet frytol, a box of frytol seasoning tablet, Alife bathing soap, Jamaa soap and Jamaa detergent all from Wilmar Africa Limited. De Pull Up Foundation wanted to leave a mark in the hearts of the aged this year and we did. This was evident in the cheerfulness and excitement they left the premises with.
To all our partners, co-partners, executives, patrons, volunteers, team players, and our able sponsors for this project, we say Ayekoo. Thank you for your time, resources, and effort.
Our Sponsors for this Project
