As the need to serve the medically needy community arises, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has targeted at changing health situation of the Niger Deltans in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The outplay has underscored an aggregate of 115 patients who partook of the eye and general surgeries in the on-going Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Free Health Medical Outreach, at Ogu General Hospital.
Managing Director of the commission, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, who spoke at the week-long free healthcare programme, hinted that the free healthcare mission was organised in partnership with Ecclestine Concept Limited which its core aim was to bring healthcare to the door-steps of rural dwellers; noting that over 18,000 patients have benefited from the free health outreach in Akwa Ibom, Imo, Delta, Bayelsa, Edo and Ondo states.
NDDC director, Rivers State office, Engr. Okezie Ule, who stood the gap for the commission’s boss, stated that the Free Healthcare programme, which had been providing healthcare services to medically underserved rural communities in the region, was one of several health programmes of the Commission.
In his words “The free medical outreach has been one of the flagship programmes of the Commission, serving the medically needy communities, with documented evidence and abounding testimonies of its beneficial impact in enhancing the quality of life of the rural poor in the region.
“Between that first intervention until the free health mission was suspended in 2019, over 2.18 million Niger Deltans, who had little or no access to modern health facilities, were treated of all sorts of ailments. These ranged from minimal consultations for things such as malaria or upper respiratory tract infections or children who had little cuts, to cogent cases such as fibroid, eye and dental surgeries.”
Moreover, the NDDC Director, Education, Health and Social Services, Dr. George Uzonwanne, while speaking shortly after inspecting the various units at the Ogu General Hospital, noticed that right from the onset of this medical outreach in April 15, 2024, it had witnessed a huge successes all round; maintaining that the free health missions reflect not only their commitment to address the immediate health needs but also to invest in the long-term well-being of their people.
According to her “In the first phase of the free healthcare mission, we have taken the programme to seven states in the Niger Delta region. We will also be visiting Owaza in Abia State and Akamkpa in Cross River State next week.”
Speaking, Chief Medical Director, Rivers State Hospital Management Board, Dr Bright Ogbondah, commended the NDDC for launching a programme that met the healthcare needs of the deltans; while appreciating the boss the kind gesture and tasked residents for compliance as health is wealth.
Also, In their various views, the Chairman of Ogu Council of Chiefs, Chief Adokiye Chuku, and the Chief Consultant of Ecclestine Concept, Dr Warri Andrew, commended NDDC for the health programme and wished the programme could have lasted more than a week to enable all the needy patients partake of it.
“The commission has done well to relaunch this people-oriented project. It is our hope that future boards will continue and improve on the programme”, they stated.
