Ghana holds medical screening for 500 Agblogboshie scrap dealers

The Ministry of Health on Thursday organised free medical screening and sensitisation programme for about 500 scrap dealers at Agblogboshie Market, in Accra.

The programme forms part of the key activities outlined by the Ministry aimed at educating metal scrap dealers about health issues in relation to the work that they do and the need to have regular checkups.

Ms Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Health, said the medical screening is to ensure that scrap dealers have good health all the time since their work exposes them to a lot of hazards.

She said the Ministry recognises the contribution of the scrap dealers to the national economy, but was quick to add that the dangers to human health are more worrying.

The Minister urged the people to send their children to school so that they would grow to be responsible and contribute to the development of the nation.

Ms Ayittey said the Ministry of Health in corroboration with Environmental Protection Agency would train scores of young people working at the electronic dump site at the market to find hygienic way of extracting cables from used electronic gadgets instead of burning them.

She assured the people of bringing the national health insurance scheme team to their door steps for registration.

President of the scrap dealers, Mr Abdula Rahman expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Health for the programme and said he would encourage the people to seek regular medical examinations to know their health status.

He appealed to the Minister to continuously organise such programmes for the scrap dealers in order for them to live a healthier life.

Source: GNA