Thousands of residents of Arochukwu and Ohafia Local Government Areas of Abia State have benefited from a three-day free medical and surgical outreach sponsored by the member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa, in partnership with the Ibe Okwara Foundation and the Abia State Ministry of Health.
The outreach, which ended on Thursday, was held simultaneously at six Primary Health Centres across Ohafia and Arochukwu LGAs areas, while specialised surgical services were provided at Ania Primary Health Centre, Akanu, and Ndioji Abam Primary Health Centre, Abam.
The intervention brought specialist healthcare services closer to rural communities, with beneficiaries receiving free medical consultations, laboratory investigations, prescription drugs, eye examinations, medicated glasses, health education and counselling, as well as surgical procedures, including hernia repairs and other minor operations.
Speaking after monitoring activities at Ania Primary Health Centre in Ohafia on Thursday, Dr Francis Uchenna of the Abia State Ministry of Health described the exercise as one of the most extensive community-based healthcare interventions undertaken simultaneously within the federal constituency.
“This is a massive intervention driven by genuine love for the people. We have doctors, surgeons, nurses, optometrists and other healthcare professionals working across six centres at the same time to ensure that residents receive quality healthcare completely free of charge.
“The Ministry of Health is pleased to partner in this initiative because it meets the highest standards of quality and patient safety”, Dr Uchenna said.
He commended Hon Okwara-Osonwa for prioritising the health needs of his constituents, noting that the outreach was implemented with the approval and support of the Abia State Ministry of Health.
Dr Uche nna also lauded Governor Alex Otti for ongoing investments in primary healthcare infrastructure across the state, saying the upgraded facilities enabled surgical procedures to be safely carried out at the primary healthcare level.
“The upgraded facilities provided by the Governor made it possible for surgical procedures to be carried out safely at the primary healthcare level.
“This demonstrates the remarkable progress the state has made in strengthening healthcare delivery”, he said.
Also speaking, the Director of Public Health in the Abia State Ministry of Health, Dr Agbonma Orieji, described the exercise as professionally organised and compliant with the ministry’s quality assurance standards.
“Our responsibility was to provide oversight and ensure that only qualified healthcare professionals handled patients throughout the outreach.
“We are satisfied with the level of professionalism displayed and the quality of services rendered”, she said.
Dr Orieji also lauded the lawmaker, Hon Okwara-Osonwa for expanding access to healthcare for vulnerable residents who might otherwise have been unable to afford treatment.
She equally appreciated the Commissioner for Health for approving and providing institutional support for the successful implementation of the programme.
Some beneficiaries, including Mr Felix Uma Orji and Mrs Kalu Gladys Ikeogu, expressed appreciation to Hon Ibe Okwara-Osonwa, describing the initiative as timely and impactful.
They said the intervention had relieved many families of the financial burden of medical treatment as well as given patients access to quality healthcare and life-changing surgical services.
National Ambassador reports that more than 80 healthcare professionals, including consultant physicians, surgeons, medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and optometrists, participated in the outreach.
