A diaspora group, Mbaise in the United States of America (USA) in collaboration with the Emma Njoku Foundation has provided free medical services to 15,000 persons in Mbaise communities of Imo State.
The seven-day free medical exercise which ended at the Ezinihitte Mbaise local government area secretariat in Imo State on Monday was extended to the Agbaja, Oke-Ovuru, Ahiara, Ekwerazu and Ezinihitte communities, all in the Aboh, Ahiazu and Ezinihitte Mbaise councils.
The vice president of Mbaise USA, Ezeji Aguwa Alozie, said the event epitomises the annual Mbaise Medical Mission, a brainchild of Mbaise USA.
Alozie said the event, in its 13th edition, assembled medication, medical professionals and volunteers who offered their services.
He listed the areas covered as Eziala Nguru in Umuneato Autonomous Community, Mbutu, Ogbor Nguru, Eziala Nkaohu and Umuona all in Aboh Mbaise council area.
In Ahiazu Mbaise, the medical outreach covered Pater Noster Secondary School, Mpam, hosting Mpam and Ihitte-Aforukwu Autonomous Communities as well as Madonna Medical Centre Aguneze.
“Emma Njoku Foundation is indeed living up to her mission albeit exceedingly given that the foundation embarked on this huge partnership with Mbaise USA in less than six months after her three days medical outreach across the three LGAs of Mbaise in December 2022.
“It is instructive to note that the programme of the medical mission was spread in such a way that all parts of Mbaise were covered.
“The day usually begins with breakfast and prep talks and ends with dinner and prep talks. Adequate security was provided to ensure safe and hitch-free activities across the designated centres,” he said.
He added that over-the-counter drugs, medical equipment, special needs materials such as wheelchairs as well as expert surgeons, physicians, optometrists, ophthalmologists, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, nurses and dentists were provided.
The aim of the outreach, he said, was to ease the suffering of the rural dwellers with a view to enhancing their health and safety.
In a statement, the president, Mbaise USA Inc, Sir S.O.S. Echendu stressed that the free medical mission is an annual mission aimed at bridging the gap in meeting up with the healthcare needs of the less fortunate ones in the rural communities who cannot afford the high cost of obtaining medical attention when they are sick.
