UPDATED: TESTIMONIES ABOUND AS THE ANNUAL CONSTITUENCY FREE MEDICAL OUTREACH CONTINUES IN ENUGU

The 2020 Free annual medical outreach, established by Deputy Minority leader, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Toby Okechukwu, has commenced in Ernest, on Friday, 21st August 2020, Joint Hospital, Achi, Oji River, Enugu.

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.

Among 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, not fewer 1000 patients had vital surgeries in several parts of their body, moreso, they gradually made their way towards complete recovery.

This year’s 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.

However, in the “flagging off”event which is being held at joint Hospital, Oji river local government area, 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.

The Founding doctor, of the “Doctors on the move Africa”, (Firm incharge of the medical procedures of this free outreach) 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.

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

Okechukwu whom is unavoidably absent in this particular event, had
adviced through a phone conversation, 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.

Due to his absence, Hon. Udeuhere, ably represented him in the Flag off, today at Joint Hospital, Achi, Oji river local government area, Enugu state.

Dr. Janle Momphat, a resident Medical officer, had told us during an interview that the only Challenges they face, is that of the language Barrier, which is bridged by the presence of an igbo speaking interpreter, he had enumerated the procedures that patients undergo before being seen by doctors.

According to him, The patients are mandatorily given medical face masks, after washing of hands and sanitizing at the gate, they now proceed to the cards office to get registered, therein, their Vital signs are checked, after which they visit the doctors in the consultation rooms, if there be a need for Ultrasound scans or further laboratory investigations, they are thus sent to the sonologist and lab scientist respectively, after which they return for further consults with their doctors, decisions are now made for surgeries, (including optical or dental sugeries) or to proceed to the pharmacy for drug obtaining.

In the Sonology department, we gathered from the sonologist, that they undertake, ultrasound scans, pelvic scans, small parts scan like breasts, with referral from the physicians. A total number of 200 patients has been to the scanning center. The language Barrier and lack of obedience seems to be the only Challenges they face in Sonology department.

The Pharmacists on duty, updated our correspondent saying that they have given drugs on prescription to about 1200 patients.The medications, we observed were readily available and segmented according to ailments. They seemed to be the busiest department, as they had the challenge of controlling the crowd and maintaining physical distancing, however, as at the time of the interview, they already devised a means of checking the crowd, through the use of queue.

While in the optical Unit, we observed the most coordinated sets of patients, well masked and adequately distanced, Dr. Grace Ogah, of the Opthalmology department, told us that they are in the business of screening the eyes for surgeries or possible medication treatments, also they handle the issuing of glasses and eye drugs to patients with eye defects. A total of 1000 patients have been seen with 850, issued treated glasses.

Among the beneficiaries was a certain young lady, Eje Victoria Chinecherem, whom had a Cataract Surgery.

Eje, 28, from Mgbidi Awgu, had been suffering from this particular eye disease for about three years, due to lack of funds, she could not be treated in the hospitals she visited in Imo, Enugu and Osun states, but with this intervention, She had a successful Eye surgery, and on her way to full health.

Jane Ogochukwu Okonkwo, from Ihe, daughter of the patient, Juliet Okonkwo, whom has a tumor surgically removed from her waist, testified that her mother had this tumor for about Seven years, Due to lack of funding, as at when they still lived in Kano state, they could not have her operated on. As at the time of this report, Juliet Okonkwo, has been operated on and making full recovery.

One, Maryrose Ogboo, Sister to the patient, Pa Eze Chukwunyelu, 70, from Oduma, whom had hernia surgery from two sides, told us that the patient has been battling with the hernia for quite some years, but with this surgery, she is quite positive that he is on his way to better days in good health.

In the Eye surgery clinic, we met a Miss Jessica Okonkwo, daughter to Mrs Justina Okonkwo, 77, from Ihe, told us that the patient whom had already been operated on, had cataract for about five years, several other hospitals turned down the option of surgery due to old age, but with the success of this surgery, she hopes for full recovery in no distant time.