Yaa Asantewaa Bank reaches out to communities with 'Medical Buffet'

The Yaa Asantewaa Rural Bank is instituting a scheme dubbed “Medical Buffet” to meet the health needs of people in its catchment area.

Board Chairman, Samuel Otoo, explains the concept involves the assembling of various medical specialists to respond to the health needs of the young and old at a one stop shop.

“We have promised ourselves that not under our watch will things go wrong within Ejisu and its environs as far as medical issues are concerned, as far as the health of our customers is concerned. Our focus is to help them improve their health, be able to do their businesses and at least leave a legacy for their future generation,” he stated.

The Bank has over the past three years reached out to 1,000 residents in Ejisu-Juaben and adjourning communities with an annual free health screening exercise.

The goal of the exercise is to inculcate the habit of regular health screening among the local population and not wait to be sick before seeking medical help at the hospitals.

“So far, we have been able to impact so much in their lives; they’ve been able to reduce their medical bill and so they’re able to do more work and increase their savings because they are able to increase their mobilization,” said Mr. Otoo.

This year’s exercise, held on May Day, focused on prostrate, diabetes, Hepatitis B, Body Mass Index and general medical conditions.

Meanwhile, the Bank, which is a relatively new entrant into the rural banking industry, says it is adequately positioned to meet the Bank of Ghana’s recapitalization requirements for the sector.

All rural and community bank are to increase their minimum capital requirement from the current 150,000 to 300,000 Ghana cedis.

The deposit base of Yaa Asantewaa Rural Bank has increased by 200 percent in last couple of years inspite of the general economic challenges.

“Based on our strategic plan, we plan to increase our deposit by 100percent every year and throughout the past three years, we’ve been able to achieve that target, so we’ll say our performance is not bad,” said Mr. Otoo .

The Board Chairman says the bank has excess capital to meet the demands, whilst supporting local businesses to grow.

The Yaa Asantewaa Rural Bank was established three years ago to serve as a financial intermediary for people in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality of Ashanti. It has within the period opened one additional branch with plans for a second one this year.