The Free Medical Mission which was held at the Primary Health Care Centre and the Opobo Kingdom Health Care Association complex, Opobo Town drew large crowds each day. Services provided included eighty-one general surgeries and fifty-seven eye operations.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to National Network described the medical mission as ‘an angelic visitation’ and prayed for more of God’s blessings for the O.B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation team, management and board which is chaired by Dr. Mrs. Seinye O.B. Lulu-Briggs.
Moses Egu, a fisherman in Akinima community said he has been battling with a hernia for the last two years. He was advised to see a doctor but according to him, he would not afford the fees requested by the doctor for surgery, so he resorted herbal medicine.
“I am a fisherman alright, but I could not raise the money the doctor was asking. I could not also borrow money from the lenders due to the exorbitant interests,” he narrated, saying that he took the only option available for him, which is to fast and pray for God’s intervention.
“God eventually intervened by sending the O.B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation to Opobo Town. I heard about the free medical treatment on the radio, and that was how I came, and the operation was carried out,” he told our reporter from his sick bed.
The same was the case with Jim Jaja of Opobo Town. He was equally inflicted by hernia and because of limited resources, could not afford the surgery. But thanks to O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation which came to his rescue.
“This Foundation has saved me from untimely death. They have removed that ‘satanic gift’ and I am now free from the excruciating pains,” he said, amid tears as he thanked the Chairman of the Foundation for what he called, an amazing benevolence.
The duo of Charity Finebone and Miracle Kalu were also among those who benefited from the five-day Free Medical Mission.
While Charity had a successful eye operation, Miracle’s debilitating tooth ache was treated in the dental section.
“For the past one week, my mouth was on fire due to the pain from my teeth. My mouth was beginning to swell until God sent the Foundation,” Miracle said.
The O.B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation’s 36th five-day Free Medical Mission, which began on Monday, June 27, 2022, and ended on Friday, July 1, 2022, left lasting memories and was hailed by people of Opobo as the best of its kind in recent history of the town.
There is also the story of Mrs. Christiana Ogolo, a primary school teacher in Opobo Town. For four months running, she could not tell exactly what was wrong with her. She just realized she was losing weight. She had taken drugs as prescribed by people, all to no avail as she kept getting thinner and weaker.
“I don’t have money to go to hospital, so I sought help from God in prayer. God answered my prayer as I heard about the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation Free Medical Mission to Opobo.
“I was treated, and I am fine as you can see. I’ll soon be discharged”, she said, smiling from her sick bed.
The 36th Free was formally declared open by His Royal Majesty, Treaty King Dr Dandeson Douglas Jaja, Jeki V, Amanyanabo of Opobo, on Wednesday, June 29, 2022.
In his welcome address, the Opobo monarch, said Opobo and Nkoro people were happy to be part of the selfless services being rendered to humanity by the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation.
He said the fact that the people had enjoyed unusually dry weather on the third day into the event showed that the hand of God was in it.
King Jaja, who is also the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, specially commended the Chairman of the Foundation, Dr. (Mrs.) Seinye Lulu-Briggs for bringing top class human and material medical resources to Otobo and Nkoro kingdoms.
According to him, “It is not always easy to think about the downtrodden, those who cannot afford minimal medical attention, especially the doctors leaving what they are doing to come devote time to go through conditions that they are not used to, just to impact on the downtrodden.”
The royal father praised Dr Mrs O.B. Lulu-Briggs for sustaining the Foundation even in the absence of its grand benefactor, the late High Chief Dr O. B. Lulu-Briggs, whom he described as his bosom friend.
“We talk about him with veneration. We talk about him because of what he stood for to mankind. We talk about him because of what he stood for to ameliorate the sufferings of society. He was a man who did not only think about himself or family but thought in a global sense to bring succor through various agencies,” the king said.
In her address, Dr. Mrs. Seinye O.B. Lulu-Briggs, Chairman of the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation, thanked the Opobo Monarch and the Executive Chairman of Opobo Nkoro Local Government Area, Hon. Enyiada Cookey-Gam for the warm welcome accorded the Foundation in Opobo.
Dr. Lulu-Briggs disclosed that the secret behind the success of the Foundation’s Free Medical Missions which were launched 17 years ago lies in the power of partnerships.
Lauding the Foundation’s volunteers she said, “It is because of the spirit of service of our medical and non-medical volunteers who make up part of the team running this mission, and those before them that have successfully ran 35 medical missions.”
She revealed that through the 35 medical missions, the Foundation has reached 135, 652 men, women and children in 21 local government areas in Rivers State as well as in communities in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Cross River States.
Also speaking, the state Deputy Governor, Dr. Mrs. Ipalibo Harry Banigo expressed appreciation to the Foundation for filling the gap in healthcare delivery.
Her Excellency Banigo, who was represented by Dr. Mrs. Ndidi Chikanele Uche, the Permanent Secretary in the Rivers State Ministry of Health, urged other non-governmental bodies to emulate what she described as the shining example of the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation.
In his goodwill message, the Executive Chairman of Opobo Nkoro Local Government Area, Hon. Enyiada Cookey-Gam, said his Council would partner with the Foundation for quality healthcare delivery to the people. “I have seen so many medical outreaches under my administration and can tell you that this Foundation is exceptional”, he said, and thanked the Amanyanabo of Opobo, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja for facilitating the program.
Members of the South-South Chiefs, Elders and Opinion Leaders Association of Nigeria, in their goodwill message also praised the Foundation for its works across the region.
