As part of his largesse for Imo citizens this Yuletide, Governor of Imo State, Dr. Hope Uzodimma has assembled a team of 30 medical experts from the United States of America who are collaborating with their counterparts in Nigeria to provide free medical services to the people.

Tagged the Imo Medical Mission, the free medical services will see the doctors carrying out all manner of complicated medical issues requiring surgical operations on their patients at three major locations ? Imo State Teaching Hospital, Orlu, Imo State Specialist Hospital, Umugumma, Owerri and Michael Uzodimma Memorial General Hospital, Omuma.

Three other Satellite venues for the free medical services are: Ekeoba Health Centre, Owerri, Nwaorieubi Health Centre, Mbaitoli and Orogwe Health Centre, Owerri, will serve as outreaches to attend to patients with not very complicated health issues.

The 30 health workers are led by Prof. Ngozika Nwaneri and include Internists, Surgeons, Pharmacists, Nurses, Implant Technologists, and Optometrists.

Dr Prosper-Ohayagha Success who is the Imo State Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Health Insurance and Social Services told newsmen Tuesday that the scope of the outreach is majorly surgical.

?Fibroid surgeries known as myomectomies and all gynaecological procedures, Opthalmology surgeries, orthopedic surgeries, general surgeries, plastic surgeries, neck surgeries (goitre), neurosurgery and lumpectomies, paediatric and internal medicine,? the Commissioner said, will be carried out.

Explaining that the Medical Mission had been fully bankrolled by the Shared Prosperity 3R- Government of Governor Uzodimma, Dr. Prosper-Ohayagha added that while the exercise will last for two weeks

(December 9 ? 20), the overall aim is to meet the indigent Imo people who are challenged in one way or the other medically, at the point of their needs.

He added: "This Medical Mission has been slated by His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma to be part of the activities to mark the yuletide for Imolites this year and to cushion the catastrophic out of pocket expenditure in healthcare being experienced by Imolites in addition to the Health insurance coverage for civil servants and pensioners which he is already bank rolling.?

The Commissioner who noted that no less than 1,000 patients had already registered for complex surgical operations, maintained that the exercise is completely free.

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