The President of the Society of Family Physicians of Ghana (SOFPOG), Dr Baaba Damoah, has cautioned young people in Tarkwa and its environs against the misuse of painkillers, warning that excessive or unsupervised use of pain-relief drugs can cause serious kidney damage and other adverse effects on the body.

Speaking to journalists at the Tarkwa main lorry station during a free medical outreach on Saturday, Dr Damoah said the physical demands of work in the area, combined with the prevalence of illegal mining operations, had contributed to the abuse of Tramadol and other strong analgesics among young people.

The outreach was organised jointly by AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine and SOFPOG as part of activities marking World Family Doctor Day, and coincided with the society’s Annual General and Scientific Meeting in Tarkwa. Despite heavy rainfall, residents turned out in large numbers, with the medical team expected to attend to about 1,000 people by the end of the exercise.

Services offered included blood sugar and blood pressure checks, malaria testing, hepatitis B and C screening, HIV testing, and dental, eye, and ear, nose and throat (ENT) consultations. Dr Damoah said the screening identified both acute and chronic conditions among some patients, while others were found to be in good health — providing an opportunity for extensive education on preventive healthcare.

She described the initiative as a way of giving back to the community and expressed gratitude to AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine for its support. She noted that SOFPOG has been operating in Ghana for nearly 20 years, bringing together medical doctors who return for specialist training after serving in various capacities, to provide comprehensive care for patients of all ages.