Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The Dr Nkemkanma Kama Foundation has flagged off its Medical Health Outreach for the people of Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency.
The Medical Outreach which began on Tuesday in Oshiri and Isu Communities in Onicha Local Government Area is powered by the member representing the Constituency in the House of Representatives, Nkemkanma Kama.
Atleast 11,000 residents of the 11 communities in the constituency across the three local government areas will benefit from the 5 days programme.
Medical Personnel were on ground to offer various medical care to the people, which include: eye care with free reading glasses, maternal care, paediatric care, gynaecological care surgical consultation, laboratory investigations and general medical care.
Mr Kama, while flagging off the event at Oshiri Central School, noted that it is in fulfillment of his campaign promises to his constituents during the election.
Represented by the Member Representing Onicha East Constituency in the State House or Assembly, Celestine Ogba, the Lawmaker noted that the programme is in line with the Peoples Charter of Needs of the Governor Ogbonnaya Nwifuru-led administration.
He said: “According to the Peoples Charter of Needs of Governor Francis Nwifuru, health is one of the major needs of the people, so what we are trying to do is to help people in the rural areas access services of modern health care.
“So what we are doing is to complement what the Governor is doing and what His wife, Mrs Mary -Maudline Nwifuru are doing through her pet project, Better Health for Women, Children and Internally Displaced Persons Foundation (BERWO).”
The Lawmaker noted that the outreach is all encompassing as those who require further medical treatment or referral will be referred to tertiary hospitals and their bills paid for.
Coordinator of the Health Outreach, Dr Napolion Ekem, described the medical outreach as a unique one.
“Generally Medical outreach is aimed at meeting the primary health needs of the people. But in this outreach we have have gone ahead to include some secondary health needs. And that is why we have brought consultants who are specialists is their various fields.
“The categories of health challenges that are targeted include gynaecological problems, paediatric problems, surgical problems, ophthalmological problems and general medical problems.”
“We are expecting to treat at least one thousand persons in each of the 11 locations but we have enough drugs to take care of more if the number of patients exceeds that number,” he said.
He said their is arrangement to refer more serious cases to the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Hospital Abakaliki for further treatment on the bills of the lawmaker and the foundation.
A beneficiary, Mrs Okoro Doris, thanked the Lawmaker for the programme which she said will go a long way in alleviating the medical challenges facing the people.
She said: “This is a reality. I am having eye problem. I came here and they checked me after which they gave me a new eyeglasses and drugs.”
A stakeholder in the area, Moses Chima, lauded the lawmaker for the programme and for keeping to his campaign promises.
