The Tema Urban Hospital has dedicated the month of October to promoting the health and well-being of older persons, with plans to provide additional free health screening and education as part of efforts to improve healthcare for the aged.
The Medical Superintendent of the facility and geriatrician, Dr Lenusia Ahlija, announced the initiative during a programme to mark the 2026 International Day of Older Persons on Thursday, October 1, at the hospital in Tema Community One.
The celebration brought together more than 200 older adults within the hospital’s catchment area for health education, free medical screening and social interaction.
The programme was organised in collaboration with the office of the Member of Parliament for Tema West, which supported the event by providing meals for the participants.
Call for older-person-friendly healthcare facilities
Dr Ahlija called for concerted efforts to make hospitals, Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds, homes and public spaces more friendly and accessible to older persons.
She stressed the need for the Ministry of Health’s ageing policy to be effectively implemented, with doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals receiving appropriate training to understand and address the specific healthcare needs of older adults.
According to Dr Ahlija, improving care for older persons requires a broader approach that goes beyond treating illnesses to creating healthcare and social environments where the elderly can access services with dignity and ease.
Free health screening for older persons
As part of the celebration, participants benefited from free screening services, including blood pressure and blood sugar checks, weight measurements, eye examinations, hearing assessments and dental screening.
Dr Ahlija said the initiative was intended to encourage older persons to pay greater attention to their health and seek medical attention early whenever they experienced symptoms or other health concerns.
She encouraged older adults to make use of nearby health facilities for regular medical check-ups rather than waiting until their conditions deteriorated.
According to her, the Tema Urban Hospital has a geriatrician and provides comprehensive screening services to support the healthcare needs of older people.
She said the hospital would use the month-long initiative to expand health education and screening for older persons, including assessments for memory-related problems and guidance on healthy living.
The initiative is also expected to provide an opportunity for the hospital to engage older persons on preventive healthcare and encourage them to take greater responsibility for their health through regular medical assessments.
Loneliness and isolation among challenges facing the aged
Dr Ahlija identified loneliness and social isolation as some of the challenges confronting older persons, particularly retirees whose children have moved away from home for employment or other opportunities.
She called on churches, companies and other organisations to create platforms where older persons and retirees could interact, build relationships and remain socially engaged.
She noted that the well-being of older adults depended not only on access to medical care but also on emotional support, companionship and a sense of belonging.
Dr Ahlija therefore encouraged families and communities to remain attentive to the needs of older relatives and ensure that they were not left isolated.
She said creating opportunities for older persons to interact and participate in community activities could contribute significantly to their emotional and social well-being.
Dr Ahlija urges women to prioritise breast screening
Dr Ahlija also used the occasion to remind women that October is observed as Pink October, a breast cancer awareness campaign.
She encouraged older women and other eligible women to visit the hospital for breast examinations and seek referrals for mammograms where necessary.
She stressed the importance of early detection and urged women to take advantage of available screening services as part of efforts to protect their health.
She said regular screening could help women identify potential health concerns early and seek appropriate medical attention.
The hospital’s decision to dedicate October to older persons, she explained, would provide further opportunities to educate the aged on preventive healthcare, healthy living and the importance of regular medical assessments.
The initiative is expected to complement the hospital’s ongoing efforts to provide healthcare services that respond to the changing needs of Ghana’s ageing population.
International Day of Older Persons
The International Day of Older Persons is observed annually on October 1 to recognise the contributions of older people and raise awareness of issues affecting their rights, dignity, health and overall well-being.
The Tema Urban Hospital’s October initiative is intended to use the observance as a platform to promote greater attention to the health and social needs of older persons within the community.
Story by Stephen Kwaku Owusu Mintah