By NewsBits
Over 200 indigent rural dwellers of Ahani-Achi Community in Oji-River Local Government Area of Enugu State at the weekend, received succour when some concerned citizens of the Community gave them free medical services.
The group provided eyeglasses, drugs of various kinds as well as mobilising volunteer health workers who came to the village to offer free medical tests, health talk, home management and the various ways to prevent certain diseases.
The Team Leader, Dr Edwin Nwokolo, a native of the community expressed joy that some concerned citizens heeded to his proposal to the laudable gesture and sponsored every activity including hiring of canopies to accommodate those who were not inside the hall.
“I came up with this proposal to see how we can contribute to the healthcare needs of our people. Fortunately, seven concerned citizens accepted to sponsor. They provided all the funds for the purchase of the drugs, hiring of bus that conveyed other health workers with me to and from Enugu, the canopies to that are providing shelter for the people since the hall could not accommodate everybody,” Dr Nwokolo said.
He explained that a team of 12 medical doctors, six nurses, three optometrists, three medical students and six auxiliary health workers came with him for the free medical services. A close monitor of the event showed that the people were given drugs based on the results of their tests conducted.
NewsBits learnt that the ailments for which they were given drugs include malaria, typhoid fever, high blood pressure, ulcer, among others. A total of 50 spectacles were given free to some of the rural dwellers who complained of poor sight as they were tested and confirmed by the eye doctors.
Dr Nwokolo stressed that they gave prescriptions to some people with ailments whose drugs were not readily available. He said that they spent over a million naira contributed by the sponsors.
One of the sponsors, Mr Ken Imachukwu, who was present at the event said they sponsored the free medical services to promote health care of the rural dwellers who might not have the funds to go to hospitals and see doctors or pay back after diagnosis and treatment. He revealed that they are contemplating rendering the gesture twice in a year.
A community leader, Mr Caleb Ezeugo also expressed joy that the concerned citizens decided to help the rural dwellers in this direction, praying that God would reward them abundantly. Mr Julius Chukwu, a retired health worker at the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, also thanked the sponsors and team of volunteer health workers, who participated in the exercise for their concern on health of the people.
Mrs Florence Eze said the exercise was a relief to the pains they undergo in searching for adequate health care outside the community, noting that both tests and drugs were administered free.
