By Gift Chapi- Odekina
At least 1000 persons were beneficiaries of a medical outreach by a Non Governmental Organization (NGO), Teen Ambassadors Foundation (TAF), for residents of Luvu Madaki communities and environs in Karu local government area of Nasarawa State.
The medical intervention held at the TAF Office Luvu Madaki, and offered screening and treatment for malaria, typhoid, peptic ulcer, urinary tract infections, hypertension, diabetes, skin diseases. The intervention also provided free vaccination and treatment for Hepatitis among others.
Doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists and pharmacists were on ground to offer services free of charge to adults and children from the communities.
Director General of the Foundation, Mr Paul Adiwu, said the gesture was borne out of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of the NGO.
Adiwu said the intervention, which was meant for all classes of people, targeted at least 1000 persons.
He said, “This is our first quarter medical outreach for the year. We were here last year. We only gave medication for hepatitis patients but the vaccination was not introduced then. So we introduced the vaccination and we felt it is only right we come here so they can benefit from the vaccination. Those those that do not have hepatitis but wish to be vaccinated are free to do so. We are here to treat them on different ailments and administer vaccinations for hepatitis.”
He said the gesture was also in the spirit of Easter and Ramadan.
Adiwu added that TAF was also into education and entrepreneurship development to deal with unemployment in the country, besides the medical outreaches.
The Medical Coordinator of TAF, Dr Samuel Munza, said the goal of the organization was to completely drive out hepatitis.
He said, “Our goal is to drive out hepatitis. We are actually vanguards towards that. We cannot do everything but we are doing our best. When we screen them, for those that are positive we have liver supplements we give to them and counsel them. For those that are negative we give them the vaccines. We give them the immunization and ask them to come for the follow up dosage we always make it available.”
He said the medical intervention covered everyone including children.
Various beneficiaries expressed gratitude to Teen Ambassadors Foundation for the gesture.
They said it would go a long way in improving the well-being of the people and called on other organizations to emulate the gesture.
A traditional ruler in the community, Chief Salasi Ali, said, “We thank God for TAF. We appreciate this gesture for the community. We thank the DG of TAF, Dr Paul Adiwu, because so far, he is only person doing such for the community. A lot of persons needed serious medical attention. They came with this medical outreach last year and the people have been testifying about how effective their treatment and drugs have been. We are grateful to TAF. for the effort to see people get well and have healthier living. It has saved us a lot of money.”
Another traditional ruler in the community, Chief Noah Danjuma, added, “We are happy for bringing it to our community. It is of great help to us. We needed the intervention and we call for more of such interventions. We are happy to receive TAF and their efforts.”
An 80-year old member of the community, David Maku, who attended for treatment of cataracts, thanked TAF for its thoughtfulness.
He said funding to get treatment in hospitals has been unavailable, hence the intervention was of great help to him.
“I usually go to hospital in Keffi. They said I have cataracts. But I have not been able to go there because of money. I am happy to be here. I thank the organizers of this programme for the intervention. I really needed it. I am sure I will see. I believe God is with you people,” he said.
