By Sam Akanimo
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), under the leadership of Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has carried out a free medical programme in one of the rural areas of Rivers State.
Under the programme, a total of 115 patients underwent general and eye surgeries.
The event which held at Ogu General Hospital in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers, is known as NDDC Free Health Medical Outreach. It was a week-long free healthcare programme.
According to Ogbuku, the free healthcare mission was organised in partnership with Ecclestine Concept Limited to bring healthcare to the door-steps of rural dwellers.
The NDDC chief executive was however represented by a Director in the state office of the commission, Okezie Ule, an engineer at the event.
Ogbuku announced that more than 18,000 patients have so far benefited from the free health outreach in Akwa Ibom, Imo, Delta, Bayelsa, Edo and Ondo states.
He further explained that the free healthcare programme has been providing healthcare services to medically underserved rural communities in the oil region.
According to the NDDC chief, it is one of several health programmes the development agency is using to change the health situation of Niger Deltans.
“The free medical outreach has been one of the flagship programmes of the commission, serving the medically needy communities, with documented evidence and abounding testimonies of its beneficial impact in enhancing the quality of life of the rural poor in the region.
“Between that first intervention until the free health mission was suspended in 2019, over 2.18 million Niger Deltans, who had little or no access to modern health facilities, were treated of all sorts of ailments.
“These ranged from minimal consultations for things such as malaria or upper respiratory tract infections or children who had little cuts, to cogent cases such as fibroid, eye and dental surgeries”, Ogbuku said.
Speaking after inspecting the various units at the Ogu General Hospital, the NDDC Director, Education, Health and Social Services, Dr. George Uzonwanne, observed that a lot of successes had been recorded since the beginning of the medical outreach on April 15, 2024.
Uzonwanne observed: “The free health missions reflect our commitment not only to address immediate health needs but also invest in the long-term well-being of our people.”
“In the first phase of the free healthcare mission, we have taken the programme to seven states in the Niger Delta region. We will also be visiting Owaza in Abia State and Akamkpa in Cross River State.”
Chief Medical Director of Rivers State Hospital Management Board, Dr Bright Ogbondah, commended NDDC for providing a platform through which the healthcare needs of the people could be addressed.
He thanked the NDDC for the gesture and charged residents of the state to avail themselves the medical services.
Chairman of Ogu Council of Chiefs, Chief Adokiye Chuku, in his remarks expressed appreciation to NDDC for the health programme. He noted, however, that the one-week duration for the programme was not enough to take care of all the needy patients.
Chief Consultant of Ecclestine Concept, Dr Warri Andrew, congratulated NDDC “for relaunching this people-oriented project. It is my hope that future boards will continue and improve on the programme.”
