Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Screening for colon cancer as well as patients for surgery has commenced at designated hospitals ahead of the forthcoming medical mission in Abia State by the Association of Nigeria Physicians in the Americas, ANPA.
Recall that registration of patients for the 10-day free medical outreach ended last week.
The screening which started on Monday, according to a statement by the Local Organising Committee, will hold at all the General Hospitals across the state between 8:00 am and 4:00pm daily. It is expected to end on Friday March 29.
According to the statement, screening for colon cancer holds at the Federal Medical Centre FMC Umuahia; Abia Diagnostic/Specialist Hospital; Amachara General Hospital; General Hospital Aba; and Abia State University Teaching Hospital, ABSUTH, Aba.
It said patients with surgical cases captured during the registration should go to any General Hospital closest to them or inquire from the Health Administrative Secretary (HAS) in charge of their Local Government Area for direction, stressing that the services are free of charge.
According to the statement jointly signed by the LOC Chairman and Chief Medical Director (CMD) of FMC Umuahia, Professor Azubuike Onyebuchi; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Ifeyinwa Uma-Kalu; and her Ministry of Information counterpart, Mr Chris Onwuegbu, only surgical patients captured during the free registration exercise will be screened.
The statement said that a total of 8,176 patients including 772 pediatric cases were registered during the exercise, adding that 2,496 among the registered cases are surgical cases, while 5,680 are medical cases.
It emphasised that only patients with surgical cases should present themselves for screening while others should wait until the beginning of the outreach.
According to the statement, the list of surgical patients is dominated by those with eye challenges with a total of 1,147, followed closely by hernia patients numbering 811.
Others include: fibroid – 175; lump – 64; growths in the stomach, neck and back -45; subacute appendicitis -17; dental surgery -17; and /thyroid – goiter -89.
The statement further appealed for blood donations from members of the public, urging willing donors to come to FMC Umuahia, Abia Diagnostic Centre and Amachara Specialist Hospital for screening and donation.
According to the statement, the ANPA team numbering over 65 medical experts from different branches of medicine will arrive the state next week for the outreach scheduled for April 4-16.
The free medical outreach is organised by ANPA in partnership with the Abia State Government.
