U.S. Embassy Health Fair collects 53 units for National Blood Bank

The U.S. Embassy hosted its 8th Annual Health Fair for employees and their families on May 5 under the theme “Good Health Adds Life to Years.” The Embassy's health unit welcomed health care providers from hospitals and clinics to the premises to offer screenings and health education. More than 360 employees and their spouses took advantage of services to prevent and diagnose health concerns such as hypertension, cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, nutrition, HIV/AIDS and malaria, as well as eye and dental exams.

As part of the Fair, employees were also given the opportunity to donate blood to the National Blood Bank. Fifty-three life-saving units were collected over the course of the day.

“The U.S. Embassy is directly and indirectly responsible for the health and well-being of more than 1,000 employees and their families,” said the Embassy's regional medical officer, Dr. Kelly Briden. “As an embassy, we're working closely with the government of Ghana to improve health services and systems across the country. We're just as committed to ensuring the health of our own staff. We all want to live long lives; attending to our medical needs helps to ensure long, healthy and productive lives.”

Participating health care providers included:

Lister Hospital Nyaho Medical Center Robert and Sons Optical National Blood Bank Korle Bu - CTU Pfizer Global Pharmaceutical C&J Medicare Hospital Health Link Reach for Recovery The Brain Clinic Ltd Akai House Clinic Amasha Partners Charisma Dental Holy Trinity Medical Center/ Spa MDS Lancet Lab. PLWHA

The U.S. Embassy Health Fair is organized annually to promote good health, offer health education, screen for disease, and offer preventive measures for diseases affecting the population.