By Jones Anlimah
Hundreds of residents of the Tanyigbe Traditional Area in the Ho municipality of the Volta Region have benefited from a free health outreach organised as part of activities marking the 2026 Tanyigbe Yam Festival (Tayafest 2026).
The exercise, held at Tanyigbe Kpodzi, provided residents with free medical screening, diagnosis, treatment, health education and pharmaceutical support.
The initiative was organised through a collaboration between the Tanyigbe Traditional Area, under the leadership of the Paramount Chief, Togbe Kodi Adiko VI, Tanyigbe residents in the diaspora, and the Tanyigbe Health Centre.
It was spearheaded by Professor Victor Wutor, a pharmacist and public health expert, who mobilised nearly 30 health professionals from the Ho Teaching Hospital, alongside healthcare professionals who are natives of Tanyigbe.
The team included doctors, physician assistants, nurses, pharmacists, disease surveillance officers, optometrists and specialists in ear, nose and throat care.
Residents underwent screening for malaria, hypertension and diabetes, while children also received specialised medical assessments.
The outreach also provided eye screening and vision testing, as well as health education on preventive healthcare.
The medical team recorded cases of previously undiagnosed hypertension and high blood sugar among some adults, while children were treated for conditions including malaria, respiratory complaints and other infections.
Patients diagnosed with acute conditions received medication free of charge from an on-site pharmacy.
Those requiring further medical attention were referred to the Tanyigbe Health Centre and other health facilities for continued care.
An NHIS team was also present to register residents who were not enrolled on the National Health Insurance Scheme and renew expired membership cards.
Prof. Victor Wutor said the initiative was intended to encourage residents to embrace preventive healthcare rather than wait until they became seriously ill.
He urged residents to undertake regular medical check-ups, reduce their intake of salt and processed sugars, engage in physical activity and use treated mosquito nets.
The initiative received financial support from Tanyigbe residents living abroad, while PharmaSymbiosis and Asthma Ghana also supported the exercise.
The organisers expressed appreciation to the Ho Teaching Hospital, Tanyigbe healthcare professionals, NHIS officials, health partners and residents of the diaspora for supporting the outreach.
Tayafest is the annual traditional festival of the Tanyigbe Traditional Area, which seeks to promote the area’s heritage, unity and development.
The 2026 edition places particular emphasis on human capital development, community welfare, environmental sanitation and public health.
