Doctors in Ebonyi State, Southeast Nigeria under the umbrella of the Conference of Afikpo Medical and Dental Doctors, CAMD, have successfully concluded a four-day free medical outreach.
The programme which took place in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State had over 5,000 residents treated for various aliments.
The outreach which was part of efforts by the CAMD to promote access to quality healthcare to the Afikpo residents was held at Mater Misericordia Hospital.
CAMD is made up of medical doctors, laboratory scientists and nurses from Afikpo LGA of Ebonyi state.
Addressing newsmen at the programme, the Chairman of the conference, Dr. Victor Uduma noted that this year’s event was the second edition of the annual programme, which started in 2023.
He pointed out that the medical outreach was necessitated due to the current poor access to health facilities in the Afikpo area of the State. This is even as he noted that this is occasioned by the high cost of living across the country.
According to Uduma some of the medical services rendered by the association included free medical consultations, eye surgery and provision of glasses. Others, he said are gynaecological and genetial surgeries, dental care and daily health talks.
“This is part of our own social responsibilities for our people as medical practitioners.
“For the past three days, we have availed ourselves to offer free medical care to our people. All the things we are doing here are free of charge for all patients.
“We embarked on this programme because we understand that there are so many of our people, who do not have the financial ability to have good medical care due to the high cost treatment.
“Here, we are ready to render free eye surgery. And we have given out 600 eye glasses to those that have eye problems.
“Our target was to conduct 200 eye surgeries as well as 50 cataracts patients and we were able to achieve our goal. Those with critical conditions were also referred to the hospital for further treatment,” Uduma said.
Declaring the programme open, earlier, the Chairman of Afikpo LGA, Engr. Timothy Nwachi, expressed happiness with the event. He described the medical outreach as a welcome development for his people in the community.
Nwachi, therefore, pledged to sustain the programme in order to boost the healthcare of in people Afikpo LGA.
He said, “We need to make our people to be able to have good health and promote qualitative healthcare of the Ebonyi State government. I commend the organizers of this outreach.”
A member of the organizing committee, Dr. Donald Egwu expressed satisfaction at the response by the people. He said the turnout of patients for the outreach was encouraging.
Egwu, therefore, thanked the people for embracing the free healthcare services rendered by the association.
One of the beneficiaries, Grace Itor, hailed the organizers for the programme. She thanked God for creating the opportunity for them to have the free medical treatment.
Francis Oko Oti, another beneficiary described the group’s intervention as timely. He stated that the outreach could not have come at a better time, than now. This is considering the high cost of drugs occasioned by the economic hardship faced by Nigerians.
He said, “We cannot thank these doctors and their team enough for their uncommon goodwill to our people. Afikpo and the rest of Ebonyi State whom they have impacted with their free services truly appreciate them. May God almighty replenish their sources.”
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