Cuban-trained graduates organise free health screening for Zanzugu Community
About 300 residents of the Zanzugu community in the Savannah Region have benefited from a free health screening exercise organised by Cubanito Nortenos, a humanitarian association of Cuban-trained Ghanaian professionals.
The beneficiaries were screened for various health conditions, including hepatitis B and C, breast cancer, high blood pressure, and blood sugar levels, among others.
Some residents diagnosed with various illnesses were provided with medication and counselling, while those with severe conditions were referred to health facilities for further medical attention.
The outreach was organised on the theme, “Rendering services to society through health care – Cubanitos, our mission,” and attracted hundreds of people seeking health support in the underserved community.
Cubanito Nortenos, also known as the Cuban-Trained Ghanaian Graduate Association in the Northern Region, consists of professionals, including medical doctors, nurses, veterinarians, agricultural engineers, pharmacists, soil scientists, and educators.
The group annually undertakes humanitarian outreach programmes to provide essential services to deprived communities.
This year’s outreach was held to commemorate the start of the Cuban revolution, an important day in Cuba’s history, and to honour former Cuban President, Fidel Castro, whose government supported many Ghanaian students to study in Cuba.
The programme also saw participation from officials of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to sensitise the community on disaster preparedness and help residents renew their insurance cards.
Community support
The Chairman of the association, Theophilus Kudese, said the initiative was a way of giving back to society.
“To whom much is given, much is expected. We had the opportunity to study in Cuba virtually for free, so we feel a responsibility to support deprived communities through medical outreach.
“We chose Zanzugu because access to health care here is limited. We want to bring health services closer to the people," he said.
He indicated that each year, the association committed to giving back to communities through voluntary outreach programmes, especially in underserved and hard-to-reach areas.
Mr Kudese added that the inclusion of NADMO and NHIA in this year’s exercise was to make the intervention more impactful and sustainable.
“Disaster preparedness and health insurance are critical to building resilient communities.
By working with these agencies, we are not only treating people, but also educating and empowering them,” he added.
Cuban/Ghana relations
A Neurosurgeon at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Dr Abdul-Aziz Mahama, emphasised the strong ties between Ghana and Cuba and the ongoing impact of Cuban-trained professionals in Ghana’s development.
He, however, advised the community members to prioritise their health by regularly visiting health facilities for medical check-ups.
Appreciation
The Assemblyman for Zanzugu, Mohammed Abdulai Latif, expressed gratitude to the team, stating that the community struggles with accessing nearby healthcare services.
“We have a clinic, but it is far from the community.
The presence of this team has brought relief to many.
We are also grateful for the support from NHIA and NADMO in improving health and safety," he said.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to the Daily Graphic expressed their gratitude to the team and said it would go a long way to improve their well-being.
One of the beneficiaries, Adam Abdulai, said, "Two of my children were examined and treated, and my wife was able to renew her expired health insurance card.
I was given medicine and health advice. We are truly grateful".
