By CHARLES IWUOHA, Enugu

About 1,100 residents of Egede community in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State have benefitted from a free medical outreach sponsored by a Non-Governmental Organization, the Open Hands Amazing Charitable Organisation Incorporated.

The free medical outreach which held Sunday, covered blood pressure and sugar test, malaria laboratory test, eye check, medical consultation and advice, dispensing of free drugs and other free medical consumables, including free 200 eye glasses.

The event also featured donation of cash grants to 50 less privileged, disabled and aged people within the community and free feeding for participants of hr exercise.

Founder of the organization, Dr Magdalene Agada,in her speech, said that the gesture was a way of giving back to society as God, in His infinite mercies, has been gracious to her and her family.

Agada said that the outreach was a big relief to the residents due to the high cost of medicare as well as the long industrial strike action embarked by medical professionals in the country.

“I am fulfilled as the organization is impacting on thousands of lives and the good people of Egede came out in large numbers to embrace the gesture that will go a long way to strengthen their health and well-being.

“The organization will continue to holistically support communities and individuals in improving their health, nutritional dietary content and financially support the less privileged, disabled, aged among others,” she said.

She thanked leaders of Egede community, Saint Vincent De Paul Society of St Cyril Catholic Parish, Egede, and its priest as well as medical volunteers of Open Hands Amazing Charitable Organisation for their support which resulted in the success recorded during the medical outreach.

Mr Joseph Nwabueze, leader of Saint Vincent De Paul Society of St. Cyril Catholic Parish, Egede, thanked the organization for coming to deliver quality healthcare at the doorsteps of Egede people “at no cost.”

“We do not have silver or gold to give in exchange; but as a society and Church, we will continue to pray for the continuous success of the organisation and its founder, Dr Agada,” 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.

“These illnesses can be traced to food, sedentary life-style and environment. We have advised the residents to eat less starchy foods; move around and exercise often and get their houses well-netted and sleep under insecticide mosquito treated nets.

“We also made referrals for those with complicated eye challenges, which our medical team cannot solve instantly,” he said.

A beneficiary of the outreach, Mrs Edith Okeke, who was given an eye drop and a pair of eye glasses, appreciated the orgainsation for giving her what was beyond her reach financially.

“The eye drop and reading glasses I got free might be nothing less than about N30,000. I am happy and I pray God to continue to bless Open Hands Amazing Charitable Oraginisation,” Okeke said.

Another beneficiary, Pa Joel Onwuka, who received drugs for rheumatism, thanked the organization for the free drugs that would ensure his leg joint pains would be a thing of the past.

An 80-year-old beneficiary of the free cash grant, Ma Bridget Ugwu, prayed God to bless and replenish the pocket of the founder of the NGO for her kind gesture.

The Open Hands Amazing Charitable Organizsation Incorporated partnered with Saint Vincent De Paul Society of St. Cyril Catholic Parish, Egede and Egede Medical Group to organise the free medical outreach.

PHOTO: •Medical professionals at work during the free medical outreach by the Open Hands Amazing Charitable Organisation Incorporated in Egede community, Udi, Enugu State