In continuation of its interventions in the health sector, the O.B. Lulu-Briggs is hosting another edition of its hugely impactful Free Medical Care Missions in Omoku community, headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area this week.
A statement issued by the Chairman of the Foundation, Dr. (Mrs.) Seinye O. B. Lulu-Briggs indicates that the programme which begins on Monday, March 21, 2022 through Friday, March 25, 2022, will hold at the Healthcare Center, Omoku. According to the statement, quality health services for the less privileged members of the public will be provided free of charge by a team of over seventy (70) medical and non-medical volunteers. The opening ceremony shall hold on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. The services to be provided include consultation, diagnosis, treatment, surgery, dispensing of prescribed medication, vision care including eye glasses provision, as well as dental, physiotherapy and others.
The Foundation, a non-profit, non-partisan organization was founded in 2001. It has in the last 20 years provided quality humanitarian services, capacity building training and life-enhancing support to the elderly, the infirm and the underserved who dwell mainly in the rural areas of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
In 2005, the Foundation launched its Free Medical Missions. So far 34 have been held inAbonnema (3), Abua, Ahoada, Akinima (2), Andoni, Bakana (2), Buguma, Bunu-Tai, Degema (2), Emohua, Etche and Isiokpo (2). Others communities are Ikang (Cross River State), Luumene Bangha, Obeakpu, Okrika, Kolokuma/Opokuma (Bayelsa State), Emeyal II (Ogbia LGA, Bayelsa State), Mbo, Ewang LGA (Akwa-Ibom State), Omuma, Idu-Uruan(Akwa-Ibom State), Minama, ASALGA, Omudiogha, Emohua LGA, Obuama (Harrys Town), Degema Prison, Port Harcourt Prison, Bonny and Port Harcourt city. According to the statement, “Where necessary, we cover the costs to renovate the health facilities we use for our free medical missions.. Our team is made up of volunteer medical personnel namely surgeons, general physicians, nurses, anesthetists, dentists, pharmacists, physiotherapists, laboratory scientists and technicians, pediatrics, optometrists and ophthalmologists. We also have an evangelical team of pastors and evangelists who provide spiritual support and succor during our medical missions.”The statement added that in total to date, over one hundred and thirty thousand (130,000) children, women and men have received free medical care through the programme.
“In addition to our Free Medical Missions we have other healthcare initiatives. In the midst of the covid-19 lockdown the Foundation provided palliatives to over 6,000 households in Rivers, Kano and Kogi states. We routinely respond to requests from individuals for funding for major surgeries. For example, we have made an individual grant that funded a kidney transplant in India. Locally we have covered the costs of treating patients with cleft-lip damage, to one with a “rare” foot ulcer that required a skin graft. In 2019 as part of a health awareness campaign on inter-uterine fibroids, we sponsored 100 free fibroid surgeries through a partnership with the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) and University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH),” the statement read.
The statement noted that the Foundation also conducts in-school and community based de-worming of children, adding that so far, areas covered include Abonnema, Etche, Okrika, Afam, Abalama, Ubima, Eleme, Bakana, Ogu and Ogbakiri communities. It has also purchased and commissioned two mobile medical operating units for eye and general operations.
In addition, to its health interventions, the O.B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation also implements programmes in elder care, water and sanitation, education and entrepreneurship. It is currently commemorating its 20th anniversary with a pledge to expand and deepen its work which supports 10 of the UN Sustainable Development goals.
