Fiapre (Bono), April 8, – A medical practitioner, Dr Godfred Owusu Ansah, has urged young people intending to marry to undergo medical screening before marriage to help prevent avoidable hereditary and infectious diseases in families.
He said many couples enter marriage without knowledge of underlying health conditions, which can later affect childbirth and family wellbeing.
Dr Owusu Ansah gave the advice at a forum organised by Living Grace Ministry International at Fiapre in the Sunyani West Municipality on the theme: “Importance of pre-marital medical screening.”
He said sickle cell disease remains one of the most common genetic conditions affecting couples and children, stressing the need for individuals to know their genotype before marriage.
He also listed other conditions such as hepatitis B, syphilis, gonorrhoea and blood group incompatibility as key health issues that should be screened for.
Dr Owusu Ansah called on families, religious institutions and community leaders to encourage premarital testing, noting that marriage requires preparation beyond emotional commitment.
He cautioned against superstition-driven explanations for medical conditions and encouraged reliance on scientific diagnosis for better family health outcomes.
“Make a conscious effort to know your status before saying ‘I do’,” he advised.
The medical practitioner added that early screening could help reduce the rising burden of genetic and communicable diseases in the country.
GHBUSS
8 April 2026
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