Relief in Abia as Greg Ibe begins free medical outreach * Targets 20,000 patients, laments collapse of health sector

Spread the love

Relief in Abia as Greg Ibe begins free medical outreach

* Targets 20,000 patients, laments collapse of health sector

By Steve Oko

It was a big relief for people with health challenges in Abia State as the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Professor Greg Ibe, flagged off his annual free medical and surgical outreach.

Wawa News Global reports that thousands of people thronged to the Event Centre Isi-Gate Umuahia, venue of the exercise.

No fewer than 20, 000 patients are to benefit from the six-day exercise to be rotated around all three senatotrial zones in the state, according to the Secretary of the Gregory Ibe Foundation, Hon. Boniface Ikwuagwu.

Professor Ibe established the Foundation since 1991 to help ameliorate the plights of humanity

The APGA governorship candidate decried the sorry-state of the health sector in state, claiming that there are more mortuaries in Abia than functional hospitals.

He expressed worry over the protracted strike by doctors in some health institutions in the state, accusing the State Government of insensitivity over the deterioration in the health sector.

Professor Ibe who was represented by his running mate and member representing Aba South state constituency, Hon. Obinna Ichita, said that the lack of care for the welfare of doctors and other health workers was the reason the health sector “is in a state of near-comatose”.

” It’s only in Abia that doctors are owed for 25 months and Government is busy telling stories. Our only state teaching hospital, the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, ABSUTH, Aba, has been under lock and key for for over one year because doctors are owed for over two years.

” The present administation in the state has lost value for life. The only functional unit at ABSUTH is the mortuary and the Government is not moved. Fridays and Saturdays are now for burial due to high rate of death in Abia.

“The oldest man in most communities today is 50 years old because there is no robust health care system in place. The health sector is dead”.

Professor Ibe who said that “medi-care is the best gift” one could give to humanity, explained that he embarked on the free medical outreach as an interventionist programme to bridge the gap in the health care delivery system.

He said that the programme had nothing do do with his political ambition as he had been in the humanitarian gesture for many years.

” Professor Ibe is not doing this to get elected into office; he wants to elongate the lives of the people”.

He said that the scheme would continue for three days in each senatotrial district before getting down to every Local Government Area, adding that senior citizens from 75 years with serious medical conditions would be placed under a routine treatment and catered for by his Foundation.

Ibe further explained that beneficiaries of the scheme with surgery cases would be referred to the Federal Medical Centre Umuahia for further treatment at no cost to the patients.

In an interview, the Head of the medical team, Dr Ojum Ogwo, said over 50 medical doctors and medical personnel from different areas of specialty were on ground to attend to people who show up for the scheme.

He said that their target was 1500 cases a day but noted that close to 1000 cases had been recorded in less than five hours the programme commenced.

According to him malaria, typhoid and high blood pressure were prevalent among the cases recorded.

Earlier in a remark, APGA Chairman, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere, described the intervention as apt in view of “the deplorable condition of the health sector in the state”.

He knocked the state government for “toying with the welfare of health workers” , but urge the people not to lose hope.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that public hospitals and Health Centres across Abia State are in a state of near comatose following the on-going Tuesday strike by doctors due to 25 months, and 11 months of unpaid salaries of doctors at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba ABSUTH; and the Health Management Board, HMB, respectively.

“It is shameful to note that ABSUTH which has already lost accreditation to admit medical students is at the verge of losing clinical accreditation due to insensitivity of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP-led administation supervising the collapse of Abia.

“The implication of this sad development is that in the absence of any urgent intervention, ABSUTH will no longer be able to graduate medical students. What an avoidable harm to the future of the state once reputed for medical excellence!”

He urged people with health challenges to take advantage of the scheme and receive quality health care, adding that the scheme is for all.

Some of the beneficiaries including Gloria Eke, John Chikwe and Jeremiah Kalu showered praises on the benefactor for the gesture.

Giving more insight on the six-day exercise, Secretary of the Ibe Foundation, Hon. Boniface Ikwuagwu, said : ” The six-day free medical exercise will tarry in Umuahia for three days before moving to the Umunneato axis of Abia Central zone, commencing at Isiala Ngwa North before terminating at Isiala Ngwa South on Sunday 7th August.”

Share on Facebook

Save

Steve Oko, Publisher/C.E.O, WaWa News Global. For more information on advert placement and news coverage, contact us on: 08038725600, or via email stevemanofgod2000@yahoo.com; wawanewsglobal@gmail.com Always read WaWa News Global - Your most dependable online news platform for the latest breaking news in Nigeria.