From Isaac Ojo
Over 500 people have benefited from a free medical outreach organised by the Community Empowerment Development Youth and Knowledge (CEDYK), with sponsorship from the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for Anambra South Senatorial District, Chief Ebuka Onukwo.
The outreach, held at St. John’s Anglican Church along Nnewi South Local Government Area Secretariat Road, provided medical care to residents suffering from various ailments amid the economic challenges facing the country.
Beneficiaries began arriving at the venue as early as 9 a.m. to access the free medical services.
Speaking at the event, CEDYK Coordinator in Nnewi South LGA, Bro. Iyke Uzukwu, popularly known as Anambra Prophet, said the initiative was designed to provide relief to people who could not afford adequate medical care.
He disclosed that more than 500 people received treatment for various conditions, including eye problems, arthritis, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Uzukwu commended the sponsor, HRH Igwe Dr. Ebuka Onukwo, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Seahorse Lubricant Industries Ltd., based in Ihembosi, Ekwusigo LGA of Anambra State, for his philanthropic activities.
He said the medical outreach cost millions of naira, adding that CEDYK chose Onukwo because of his record of providing assistance to vulnerable people.
“Many politicians actually contacted us to sponsor our programmes, especially the medical outreach, but we didn’t oblige them because they don’t have any record of offering assistance to any needy person in their respective communities,” he said.
Uzukwu explained that the organisation eventually settled for the NDC senatorial candidate because of his longstanding commitment to humanitarian causes, including assistance to people beyond his immediate community.
He cited the recent construction of a three-bedroom apartment for an indigent widow in Osumenyi and the sponsorship of a CEDYK member suffering from kidney disease for treatment abroad as examples of Onukwo’s philanthropic interventions.
“These are persons who are complete strangers to the senatorial candidate by all standards, yet he rose to their assistance,” Uzukwu said.
He added that CEDYK planned to expand the medical outreach to cover the entire Nnewi South LGA and other local government areas across Anambra State.
The coordinator also expressed appreciation to the health workers who partnered with the organisation to deliver medical services to the beneficiaries.
