Over 2,000 indigent residents of Afaha Atai in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have benefited from a free medical outreach organized by the National Association of Seadogs (NAS), also known as Pyrates Confraternity.
Members of the association, who are in Uyo for the 2025 Quarter 1 Pyrates Working Council meeting, also handed over a solar powered borehole water project equipped to the community.
The project aims to address the persistent problem of unsafe drinking water and the spread of waterborne diseases.
Speaking during the outreach held at Afaha Atai Primary Health Centre on Friday, the NAS Capn, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, Dr. Joseph Oteri, said the intervention was part of activities marking the association’s quarterly meeting in the state.
According to him, the decision to bring the outreach to Afaha Atai stemmed from the prevalence of waterborne and communicable diseases in the area.
“Each of our quarterly meetings is an opportunity to touch humanity in a tangible way,” Oteri said. “We usually select a list of communities for a scoping mission to assess disease prevalence and population. That helps us determine the quantity of drugs to purchase and the number of medical personnel to engage.” He said.
He explained that NAS’ centrally-driven medical missions, which began in 2011, have recorded remarkable impact across several states, adding that the association’s website is replete with testimonials from beneficiaries of previous interventions.
Also speaking, Dr. Eshiet Ekanem, Medical Mate of Sancta Riviera Deck, revealed that the team conducted a detailed scoping mission in Afaha Atai and its neighboring communities—Afaha Etim and Mbietebe—to determine their healthcare needs before the outreach.
He said the exercise was designed to cater to between 2,000 and 3,000 people, offering treatment for malaria, typhoid, skin infections, and age-related illnesses.
“Our findings showed that water scarcity in this area has led to an increase in waterborne diseases,” Ekanem said. “We came with a full stock of medications to treat common illnesses such as malaria, typhoid, and scabies. We also discovered that about 35 percent of the residents are elderly, with nearly a third of them aged 70 years and above, so we made provisions for ailments like arthritis, poor vision, and other age-related conditions.”
He further disclosed that the medical team included optometrists to conduct eye and vision tests and provided referral options for severe cases to designated health facilities, as approved by the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, Evang. Edidiong Inyang, lauded the Seadogs for their humanitarian gesture, describing it as a lifeline for residents who lack access to basic healthcare.
Commissioning the renovated solar-powered borehole, Inyang noted that the facility had been out of use for several years, forcing residents to depend on unsafe water sources.
“This borehole has been abandoned for a long time, and its restoration today brings immense relief not only to Afaha Atai but to neighboring villages as well,” he said.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Edet Edem, expressed gratitude to NAS for the medical intervention, saying the free consultation and drugs he received would go a long way in treating his ailment.
“I am very happy because I could not afford hospital treatment. The Seadogs have brought healing and hope to us,” he said with a smile.
Another beneficiary, Mrs. Ekaette Udo, a 65-year-old widow, said the outreach was a blessing to her and many others who had suffered silently due to lack of access to healthcare.
“For many years, I have been struggling with arthritis and poor eyesight, but I couldn’t afford hospital visits or drugs. Today, doctors have checked me, given me eye drops, and medicine for my joint pains. I thank the Seadogs for remembering people like us,” she said, visibly emotional.
The outreach, according to NAS, aligns with its long-standing commitment to humanitarian service, public health promotion, and community development, particularly in underserved rural communities across Nigeria.
