From Maurice Okafor.Enugu.
Some concerned citizens of Ahani – Achi, a serene community in Oji River local government area,Enugu state, on Saturday,May 20, impacted on the health care needs of their rural dwellers.
They sponsored the provision of drugs of various kinds and mobilisation of volunteer health workers.who came to the village to offer free medical tests, health talk, home management and the various ways to prevent certain diseases to their people.
In addition the drugs including medicated reading glasses were offered freely to the people on the spot.
The team leader Dr Edwin Nwokolo, who is a native of the community expressed joy that some concerned citizens heeded to his proposal to for the laudable gesture and sponsored every activity to effect, including hiring of canopies to accommodate those who were not contained inside the hall.
His words,” I came up with this proposal to see how we can contribute to the health care needs of our people.Fortunately, seven concerned citizens accepted to sponsor”.
“They provided all the funds for the purchase of the drugs, hiring of bus that conveyed other health workers with me to and from Enugu, the canopies to that are providing shelter for the people since the hall could not accommodate all,the tea break and meal thereafter for the health workers”.
He explained that a team of 12 medical doctors, six nurses, three optometrics(Eye doctors),three medical students and six auxilliary health workers came with him for the free medical services.
A close monitor of the event showed that the people were given drugs based on the results of their tests,conducted and released instantly.
The ailments of which they were given drugs include malaria. typhoid fever, high blood pressure, ulcer.among others. A total of 50 spectacles were given free to some of the rural dwellers who complained of poor sight, after they were tested and confirmed by the eye doctors.
Dr Nwokolo stressed they gave prestrictions to some people with ailments whose drugs are not with them. He disclosed they spent over a million naira, totally contributed by the sponsors.
One of the sponsors, Mr Ken Imachukwu.who was present at the event said they sponsored the free medical services to promote health care of the rural dwellers, who might not have the funds to go to hospitals and see doctors. Most especially. those of the rural dwellers who will not think of paying back.
He revealed that they are contemplating renderng the gesture twice in a year.
A community leader Mr Caleb Ezeugo expressed joy that the concerned citizens decided to help the rural dwellers in this direction, praying God to reward them abundantly.
Mr Julius Chukwu. a retired health worker at Enugu State University Teaching hosqhtal, also thanked the sponsors and team of volunteer health workers, who participated in the exercise for their concern on health care need of the people.
Mrs Florence Eze said the exercise was a relief to the pains they under in searching for adequate health care outside the community, in addition to the facts that both tests and drugs were administered free.
Over 200 indigents most especially women and children were attended treated by the volunteer health workers, courtesy of concerned citizens of Ahani-Achi community.
