The Conference of Afikpo Medical and Dental Doctors (CAMD) has successfully concluded a four-day free medical outreach for over 5,000 residents of Afikpo Local Government Area (LGA).
The outreach was held at Mater Misericordia Hospital, Afikpo; as part of efforts of CAMD to promote access to quality healthcare in the area.
The leadership of the health workers, which comprises medical doctors, laboratory scientists and nurses from Afikpo LGA of Ebonyi state, said it was the second edition of the annual programme, which started last year.
In an interview with Blueprint Weekend, Chairman of the association, Dr Victor Uduma, said the medical outreach was necessitated due to the current poor access to health facilities occasioned by the high cost of living across the country.
Uduma listed some of the medical services rendered by the association to include: free medical consultations, eye surgery and glasses, gynaecological and genetial surgeries, dental care and daily health talks.
He said: “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 treetment.
“Here, we are ready to render free eye surgery and give 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.”
Meanwhile, while declaring the programme open, Chairman of Afikpo LGA, Engr. Timothy Nwachi, said the medical outreach was a welcome development for his people in the community.
He pledged to sustain the programme in order to boost the healthcare of the people of Afikpo LGA.
“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 organisers of this outreach,” he said.
Also speaking, a member of the organising oommittee, Dr Donald Egwu, said the turnout of patients was encouraging and thanked the people for embracing the free healthcare services rendered by the association.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Grace Itor, hailed the organisers and thanked God for creating the opportunity for them to have the free medical treatment.
Another, beneficiary, Mr. Francis Oko Oti, said the group’s intervention was timely, considering the high cost of drugs occasioned by the economic hardship faced by Nigerians.
“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”, he said.
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