Over 1,000 residents of Igbodo and Onicha-Ugbo communities in Delta State have received free medical services under a special programme organised by the Dr. Isioma Okobah Foundation as part of its end-of-year activities in the state.
During the recent two-day exercise, the beneficiaries were not only diagnosed but provided with free medications for such common ailments as diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Visually impaired persons also received medicated glasses to boost their sight.
THISDAY learnt that the free medical fair was an annual programme of the foundation aimed primarily at assisting especially the less privileged members of the society improve their health status and thereby complement the healthcare delivery of the state, especially towards reducing the morbidity and mortality rate in the communities.
The initiator of the programme and architect of the foundation, Dr. (Mrs.) Isioma Okobah, explained that the free medical scheme was “designed to provide affordable, accessible and quality healthcare for the rural populace”, who often do not seek professional medical services even when feeling unwell or ill.
Okobah lamented that too many people in the rural areas were dying from ailments that require simple medication or that could be prevented through proper healthcare provision. Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Azinge, while declaring the free healthcare programme open, commended Okobah for the initiative, which he noted would provide the needed impetus in the state's healthcare delivery programme.
He revealed plans by the state government to re-introduce the free rural healthcare scheme as a deliberate policy to boost the health needs of the rural populace in line with health segment of the SMART agenda of the Okowa administration.
Azinge further assured stakeholders and other listeners at the event of the government’s commitment of government to “the full implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to enable all Deltans access quality and affordable healthcare”.
In their separate remarks, the traditional ruler of Onicha-Ugbo Kingdom, Obi Victor Chukwumalieze 1, and the Obi of Igbodo, Nkeobikwu Osedume 1, both commended Okobah for bringing healthcare delivery to the people at the grassroots. Some of the participants also lauded the free medical initiative saying that they have not had it so good.
The programme also featured a demonstration on how to carry out Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Basic Life Support (BLS) by USA-based medical student and member of the medical team Miss Kyla Okobah.
The highpoint of the two-day free healthcare exercise was the inspection of the Stephen Okoh Memorial Community Health Centre at Igbodo, which was built and equipped by Okobah to address the primary health challenges of the Igbodo community.
By: Omon-Julius Onabu
This Day News
ABUJA: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED
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