The Former Deputy president of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu has inaugrated the 2020 season of the Annual medical outreach, instituted by the Deputy Minority leader, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Toby Okechukwu.

UGAMATV gathered that the Annual medical outreach, is a health program established by Rt. Hon. Okechukwu, in a bid to restore vitality and health to the members of his constituency.

Every year, Persons from all spheres of life benefit immensely from the innumerable dividends of this program. Several individuals, travel from far and near to participate in this initiative.

The medical outreach which has run through five consecutive years has recorded a 100% success rate, since no death has occurred in any of the medical activities
therein.

Amongst other activities that occur usually in the venue, there are Optical surgeries, Fibroid evacuation surgery, treatment of reproduction related ailments, diabetes, hypertension, hernia treatments, issuance of surgical spectacles, ultrasound scans, tests and immediate reception of drugs.

The vision of this movement which is based on restoration of hope, vitality, longevity and health to the people of The Constituency has been continually met.

We have also learnt that in 2019, close to 1000 patients had vital surgeries in several parts of their body, moreso, they gradually made their way towards complete recovery.

However, in the “flagging off”event which was held at Mother of Mercy hospital, Ihe in Awgu local government area of Enugu state,  we observed that not more than 400 persons, both patients and staff alike, were admitted into the venue, the medical personels, supervised the strict adherence to the COVID-19 safety Injunctions, such as distribution and wearing of facemasks and face shields, frequent washing and sanitization of hands with soap and alcohol based sanitizers respectively. Proper physical distancing were also observed.

In an interview with our correspondents, Pa Abel Onu, 78, said that he has suffered a severe form of cataract for 10 years, hailing from Nkerefi in Nkanu East, he traveled with a close acquaintance in search of medical expertise and possible remedy to his almost damaged eyes. He is however positive that with the success rate recoreded annually, he will be adequately treated and returned back to his farming occupation.

Welcoming the Senator and the Deputy Minority leader, the founder of the “Doctors on the move Africa” a partnering establishment, Dr. J. H. Kigbu, lauded Okechukwu for constantly considering the health and welfare of his constituency,  he then said that other diseases seems to have been suffering negligence, since the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic, but with this intervention, those diseases will hopefully be treated adequately. .

He further, reiterated that, even Amid the pandemic, the initiative will help reinforce the immune and health system of benefactors, hence, reducing the susceptiblity of the Virus in their system.

A COVID-19 sensitization session was held by medical personels to educate and enlighten the patients and the guests about the dangers of the Corona Virus.

Owing to the restrictions, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, patients in need of more life threatening surgeries will not be operated on.

Okechukwu, during an opening remark, adviced the Potential patients to respect and adhere to stipulated regulations to ensure orderliness in the program, with emphasis to the COVID-19, he enjoined everyone to adhere to the guidelines especially as given by the federal government.

Speaking on the inability of the doctors to perform some surgeries due to the COVID-19 restrictions, he promised that in the next year’s session, those kinds of surgeries will be undertaken, as has always been known with this particular program.

Prior to the flag off proper, Sen. Ekweremadu, commended Barr. Okechukwu, as well as the Governor for exhibiting exceptional leadership traits, hence organising this heartfelt gesture, he however stated that more measures are being put in place, alongside the Executive Governor of Enugu state, Rt. Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for a continued access to health facilities at any point of illness.

Appropriate rehabilitation and equipment of the pre-existing general hospitals are on going while modern general hospital will be located at every other local government area in Enugu  including Aninri.

With such development, one can easily access secondary and tertiary healthcare in the general hospitals, while the health centers manage the provision of primary health care.

The program is slated to run for the Awgu and Aninri local government area, on the 18th through the 20th of August 2020, while for the Oji river local government area, on the 21st through the 23rd of August 2020.

While the Awgu and Aninri section holds at Mother of Mercy hospital, Ihe Awgu, the Oji river section will be holding at Joint hospital Achi, Oji river local government area of Enugu state.