Ho Residents Commend Vodafone Foundation For Free Healthcare

More than 800 residents of Ho in the Volta Region have received free healthcare from the Vodafone Ghana Foundation through its year-long nationwide health initiative, HealthFest. This was at the weekend when Vodafone's community health outreach programme made its stop at the Asogli Community Assembly Park in the Volta Regional Capital, Ho.

Besides screening residents for diabetes, hypertension and hepatitis B, the Foundation and its partners provided free medical advice to participants and medications for certain diseases. The Foundation also created a Gym and Aerobics section during the Healthfest to promote healthy lifestyle and wellbeing.

Daniel Ocloo Dzaba, a resident of Ho and an elder of the Asogli State, said: 'I have seen other HealthFest events in other regions on TV and I kept wondering when it will get to our region. I am excited that it is here and I have benefitted from this initiative by Vodafone.'

He commended the Vodafone Foundation for providing free healthcare to communities across the country, and urged the Foundation to organise the free health exercise on a monthly basis, if possible.

So far, five regions namely Greater Accra, Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Northern and Volta, have benefitted from HealthFest, which was launched earlier this year. It is a 'festival of health' during which Vodafone contributes to an improved health care for its customers and the communities by offering free health screening, medical advice, and discussion on emerging health issues, medication among others.

Commenting on the event, , Head of External Affairs at Vodafone Ghana, Gayheart Mensah, said 'the Vodafone Foundation is committed to promoting health in Ghana and Healthfest is one of the many innovative initiatives the Foundation has introduced to drive this agenda.'

'HealthFest is aimed at addressing some of the challenges people face in accessing healthcare. It takes quality healthcare to the door steps of Ghanaians in the various regions.'

Since its establishment in 2009, the Foundation has championed social and impactful investment programmes in the country including Healthline 255, a medical call centre, run by doctors and nurses. By simply dialing 255 from any Vodafone number, Ghanaians can now access expert medical advice everyday between 4pm and 10pm including weekends.

In 2013, the Foundation spent over GHS2 million on key projects which are delivering sustainable benefits to Ghanaians particularly in the health and education sectors.