By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo
A non governmental and non profit organisation- Richard/Emem Inyang Foundation has improved the health conditions of more than 1,500 vulnerable people in communities around Ibiono Ibom local council of Akwa Ibom.
The medical outreach which held in Palmer Memorial Hospital, Ikot Usen, Ibiono Ibom was part the Foundation’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), initiatives.
It also extended it’s humanitarian gesture to Ikot Ikpang Itam in Ibiaku Itam 2 community in Itu local government area.
President of the Foundation, Richard Inyang, a missionary and church minister said the two community-based events were his own way of appreciating God for preserving his life aftef a ghastly accident, and to also give back to the society.
“What we are doing is a way of appreciating God for saving my life. The accident I had was well broadcasted all over the media , everywhere, I had third degree burns and multiple surgeries.
“Nobody believed I was going to survive, but God saved my life for a purpose, and a missionary and minister of God, one of the best ways to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ is to reach out in practical terms to the needy, the vulnerable, those who cannot afford, and lift their burdens and put smiles on their faces.
“This programme is running for three to four days and with free medical outreach, free distribution of food, toiletries and clothing and then preach the gospel and draw souls to Christ.” Inyang explained.
The Foundation he said has continued to run on a three pronged basis, namely, the Richfield School of Excellence, providing affordable and qualitative education, Solace Orphanage International, a welfare organisation, providing full medical, educational and care services for motherless children, and the Richard Inyang Foundation, a non funded, non profit organisation providing educational and medical support to indigent students in secondary and tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
“What you have seen us doing is purely self-funded. We are not receiving funding from government, not from anywhere, I have to let people know that”.
He expressed delight in the number of people who turned out to take advantage of the free medical outreach.
He commended the medical team led by Dr. Inyang George for doing “an excellent job “, and “leaving their comfort to come to this community to render their services almost free of charge, you know I can’t afford their bills, but they just accepted to volunteer”.
The medical outreach featured, Free Eye Consultations Health Education Sessions, Eye Screening and Distribution of Reading Glasses, Screening and Treatment for various ailments.
There were also screening and treatments for hypertension , diabetes, and other common medical conditions as well health awareness campaigns for the beneficiaries.
Coordinator of the free medical outreach, said that the Foundation has over the years been committed to sponsoring life-touching activities that enhance the welfare and wellbeing of the people of the communities across the state.
Inyang who is a member of the Foundation commended the President for expending so much of his personal resources to meet the needs of others.
He confirmed that the outreach and other activities of Foundation have affected many lives in postitive ways.
“As a medical doctor, and as one who has been part of the activities from the beginning, I can tell you that good health is not cheap and for the President to devote so much of his personal money to provide free and quality health care and education to people is commendable and highly appreciated.
“it’s not that he’s expecting anything from them, he is not a politician and he is not even contemplating any election for you to say he is doing because of election. It’s purely humanitarian and for the sake of the gospel.
‘We have attended to so many patients and more are still coming. From the records more than 1,500 patients have received free treatment, free drugs, free tests and reading glasses. It’s a great responsibility for me to be part of this initiative, and I thank other members of team, we are 10 meddical personnel and they have shown commitment and professionalism.” He said
Also speaking, the Chief of Ikot Ikpang Itam community, Chief Itaobong Sampson expressed appreciation to Mr. Richard Inyang for his generous and philanthropic gesture to his community and lauded Inyang for always being available for his community, even though he isn’t an indigene of the area.
“He is someone God has used to bless this community. We have not felt government presence here, but God has used him to take care of this community”, Sampson, said, “he has also empowered the people of Ikot Ikpang, he has brought a school, he has an Orphanage where children are taken of, with free feeding, free education and accommodation.
*He has been doing free medical outreach and this year, he has decided to grade our community, we find it difficult to come into the during the rainy season, but in this dry season, he has decided to grade our community and others. May God bless him. We are calling on government to come continue from where he has stopped”.
Also, the youth president of Ikot Ikpang Itam, Comrade Emmanuel Okon William said, “he is a one in a million personality. He is not from Ikot Ikpang, he is not a politician, he is an ordinary citizen. It is God that brought him to Ikot Ikpang Itam to become his second home. We the youths of Ikot Ikpang Itam, we are very grateful and we pray that God will bless him and elevate him more for coming to our rescue”.
