Some residents of Akumazi Umuocha Community in Delta State have called on government and private individuals to ensure regular conduct of free medical outreach to eradicate diseases.

The residents made the call after receiving free medical care provided by Open Hands Amazing Charitable Organisation – U.S., UK and Nigeria, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) at Akumazi on Saturday.

The residents who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) were tested and treated for diabetics, malaria, typhoid, optical issues, amongst others of doctors at the event.

The beneficiaries commended Dr Magdalene Nwaka-Agada, President and Founder, Open Hands Amazing Charitable Organisation and her dependable allies, Dr Josephine Ewere and Dr Aloysius Agada for the gesture.

According to a 46-year old physically challenged resident, Mr Simeon Okitia, today’s outreach is a welcome development and it will help to address a lot of our health issues.

“I have come because I received information that the outreach will hold at St. Michael’s Anglican Church here in our community and the challenge I have is my eyes.

“I can’t see clearly with my eyes coupled with my physical challenge.

“I thank the organisers of this outreach and pray God to continue to support them to do more. If this medical outreach can be sustained and made regular, the various diseases would be eradicated,” Okitia said.

Also a 64-year-old, Mrs Beatrice Egbo, a widow, said she was diagnosed with high blood sugar, saying that she had been attended to and given drugs free of charge.

Sixty-year old Mrs Caroline Uyanwanne said she received eyes glasses and free drugs.

The residents, however, decried the absence of a secondary school in the community and urged the state government to help.

Chief Martins Egwabor, the Ihama of Akumazi Kingdom, lauded the organisers, saying that the people were happy about the programme.

He said that the closest hospital to the community was far.

According to him, this is why I told you that the people were happy; they had been suffering for long until this intervention.

A Clergy, Rev. Canon Christopher Onwuka, the Vicar of St. Michael Anglican Church, Akumazi, described the outreach as unique and large.

“In this outreach, people are diagnosed, fed and given free drugs; I have never seen this before.

“I took the sensitisation to nooks and crannies of this community and beyond; so, some of the beneficiaries you see today are from Igke in Edo State and others from other communities outside Akumazi.

“This medical outreach is complementing the spiritual and I love it. So, God will bless the organisers and I pray that there will be the next time in this community,” the cleric said.

The Programme Coordinator, Dr Kingsley Okonta, said the organisation planned to carry out four outreaches in Nigeria before the end of the year.

“The idea is that the sponsors, Chief Magdalene Nwaka-Agada and her dependable allies will see it as a way of putting smiles on the faces of the people of Akumazi like we did in Egede, Udi LGA of Enugu State and in Ibusa, Oshimili North LGA of Delta State.

“The fourth outreach will hold in Lagos before the end of the year.

“We are here to help those who are in need of medical care.

Okonta noted that the organisation had given eye glasses, eye drops, treated malaria and typhoid, diabetics and all manner of drugs and gave lectures on health tips; and everything was free because the organisation had paid for them.

“We budgeted for 1,500 persons but, we have given up to 700 people and the day is still early and before the end of the day, we are most likely to cover more than the target.

“On the heels of our medical outreach in July, this year in Ibusa, Delta, over 400 persons turned up.

“In Egede, in Enugu State on October this year, over 1,500 persons turned up; women, men, elderly, youths and indigent individuals were given access to Medicare for health issues,” he said.

The Traditional Ruler of Akumazi Kingdom, Obi Ezeagwukpo Jegbefume I and his wife witnessed the event.

The monarch lauded the organisers and expressed satisfaction with the massive turnout of the people.

NAN reports that no fewer than 800 patients registered for the one-day medical outreach. (NAN)

•Officials of Open Hands Amazing Charitable Organisation attending to residents of Akumazi Umuocha Community in Delta State during last Saturday’s free medical outreach

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