By STANLEY NWANOSIKE

The Open Hands Amazing Charitable Organisation Incorporated, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), on Sunday provided free medicare to additional 124 residents of Egede community in Udi Local Government Area (LGA) of Enugu State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that two weeks ago, the NGO attended to 1,100 residents of the same community through a free medical outreach that covered various medical tests, eye check, free eye glasses, medical consultation/advice and free drugs.

Speaking on why the NGO came back to mop-up the unattended residents, the Founder of the organization, Dr Magdalene Agada, said that the free mop-up outreach was in response to persistent calls by those yet to benefit.

Agada explained that as at the end of the free medical outreach on Oct. 11, “most of these attended today had been given numbers to see doctors but time could not permit them.

“What motivated me was the passion seeing the elders, vulnerable, disabilities in great number came out to embrace the healthcare services meant to take care of their health challenges neglected for a longer time with no help from any quarters.

“They came from various communities, even though Egede is our primary target, as early as 6am to embrace the free medical outreach which was given to them with warmth by our medical teams.

“It will be unfair for any of them to be left out,” she said.

She called on Egede people in the Diaspora to work together to build a healthcare centre in the community and help with food stuffs, drugs and cash incentives to help sustain the less privileged people back home.

“Egede in Diaspora should do more to help the less privileged people and the indigent because they sincerely value their health but lacked the basic amenities,” she added.

Mr Joseph Nwabueze, leader of Saint Vincent De Paul Society at the Parish, thanked the organization for coming back and ensuring that all was attended to.

“We are sincerely grateful to the organisation and its founder, Dr Agada, for hearing our request that our brothers and sisters left unattended to on the first day can also benefit,” Nwabueze, whose society helped in mobilising the people, said.

Dr Kingsley Okonta, the Head of the medical team, said that the predominant illnesses diagnosed among residents of Egede community included diabetes, high blood pressure and malaria.

One of the beneficiaries, Ma Eunice Okorie, thanked the organization for the free medication and medical counseling she received.

Highlights of the mop-up outreach were cash donation to some aged and disabled members of the community as well as donation of a wheel chair to one of the disabled who passionately requested for it during the first day of the medical outreach. (NAN)

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