In affirmation to the popular parlance that says “wealth is health ” the Pan-Ikwerre organisation in the Diaspora, Ogbakor Ikwerre USA/Canada has organised a 5- day free medical and surgical service to the natives of Ikwerre land.
The free medical mission, which was carried out at Emuoha Local Government Council secretariat in partnership with other donor organisations such as Timoson Nig Ltd., Americares, Medical Visions for Peace, University of Port Harcourt Ophthalmology, Medical Women’s Association, Rivers State branch, amongst others, provided free medicare for different cases including, free test, drugs administration and surgeries.
Speaking with journalists, the President of Ogbakor Ikwerre USA/Canada, Patrick Anyawoke, disclosed that the medical mission was necessitated by the need to provide medicare to those who don’t have the resources to seek medical help, adding that it was the second edition of the programme which is being held biennial.
He noted that the people’s health care needs are on the increase and called on well meaning individuals to commit to providing health assistance to people in need.
Mr Anyawoke said that the first medical mission was more like a tip of the iceberg compared to what they saw now and stressed the need to do more in supporting and providing healthcare need for the people.
“Ogbakor Ikwerre USA/Canada is very much committed to this so that we can collaborate with government, we can collaborate with anyone who cares to ensure that we can deliver on the healthcare needs of our people. Since this medical mission started on Monday we have seen over 2000 people that flow into this place.
This is a sign that people are in dire need of medical care and I wish that we can do this every year but we are hoping that with the biennial that we are doing we can still touch more lives”, he stated.
According to him, the pan-Ikwere organisation in the diaspora learnt some of the service gaps from the first mission and decided to do more in terms bringing more services like breast cancer screening in this edition adding that health is greater than wealth.
Also, the Health Administrator for Ogbakor Ikwerre USA/Canada, Dr. Josephine Court, said over 2000 persons have been treated for different ailments in the past three days, with majority of them getting free surgeries.
She stated that the free medical mission was made possible by volunteer organizations and members of the Ogbakor Ikwerre USA/Canada.
The Emohua local government Chairman, Dr Chidi Lloyd, who hosted the free medical mission, expressed gratitude over the initiative and thanked the Ogbakor Ikwerre USA/Canada for providing free medicare for people in the area.
He said the council intends to replicate same, seeing the enormous impact the programme has on the people especially at this time of economic crunch.
On his part,the medical director of Ogbakor Ikwerre USA/ Canada, Dr. Ogu Emejuru who was responsible for organizing the doctors who participated and delivered free surgical, ophthalmology and dental care thanked Dr. Onua and Dr. Ejimadu of UPTH ophthalmology department, Dr. Okah of Velcron for surgical services and Dr. Emenike for dental services. He also thanked Dr. Ike Nlerem for providing general medical consultations.
One of the beneficiaries of the free surgery, Rose Dike, who was treated of a lipoma thanked Ogbakor Ikwerre USA/Canada for treating her ailment of over 25 years.
The woman whose case was described as the “star case” of the 5-Day free medical mission was treated of lipoma, a huge growth that was positioned on her back close to the neck.
In an Interview with National Network shortly after the surgery, Rose Dike, who is in her sixties and hails from Obele Community in Emohua local government area, disclosed that she had not been to the hospital because she had no money.
She said, though she didn’t feel pains, the discomfort and heaviness weighed her down and prevented her from carrying out some activities, as she was only able to menial jobs to fend for herself.
She thanked the Ogbakor Ikwerre USA/Canada for treating her of what she thought was a deformity of the vertebrae.
Free drugs and glasses were also being provided for eye surgery patients and other ailments.
