The Ministry of Health says over 200 Sophia and nearby residents benefited from a medical outreach exercise held on Thursday in collaboration with the Love and Faith World Outreach Ministries and other agencies.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release, the exercise was held in partnership with Eye Care Guyana, the Cheddi Jagan Dental School and the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS).
Residents benefited from testing for HIV and other STIs, dental screening, extraction and other dental services, eye, blood pressure and sugar testing and cervical cancer screening using the Visual Inspection using Acetic Acid (VIA) method. Two dentists from the dental school worked along with members of the church to provide services to residents.
A NAPS representative who said he had been employed at the agency for five years said the outreaches allow them to take treatment and services to the people.
He said the agency capitalizes on these exercises as it provides them with an opportunity to educate persons on the seriousness of HIV/AIDS.
Eye Care Guyana, in collaboration with the ministry screened 68 persons for eye ailments.
They also advised those who needed glasses to visit the Georgetown hospital where they can obtain them for $10,000.
Twenty-eight women accessed VIA screening, 67 persons received dental care, 68 benefitted from eye screening and over 50 HIV tests were conducted, GINA said.
Residents said the exercise has caused them to realize that they need to take their health more seriously and it has motivated them to get tested. They extended gratitude to the ministry and other groups that partnered to provide them with health services that were free of cost.
