My Free Annual Medical Outreach Not  Driven By  Politics – Ex-Minister

A former minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has declared that her annual free medical outreach is driven by compassion and a commitment to saving lives, and not by political considerations.

At the ongoing 19th edition of the medical outreach in Isuikwuato, Abia State, yesterday, Onyejeocha said the initiative predates her election into the House of Representatives and continues irrespective of whether she occupies public office.

“I started this work before I even went to the House of Representatives. If I don’t return to the House, does that mean I should stop helping people? This programme is not about politics. It is about passion and making an impact,” she said.

She explained that the outreach is a covenant she has kept with God and the people for nearly two decades, stressing that the desire to restore lives has remained her greatest motivation. In a press statement made available to journalists by her Media Office yesterday, the former minister explained that, due to the overwhelming number of patients, the medical team prioritises the most critical cases before attending to others.

“You cannot treat everybody at once. We identify those with the most severe conditions and attend to them first, while others are scheduled later. What matters is ensuring that people receive the care they desperately need,” she said. Her remarks came as the chief consultant and chief surgeon for the current outreach, Dr Eziechila Joseph Chukwuma, narrated how Onyejeocha refused to abandon this year’s programme despite the enormous financial and logistical demands.

“When she insisted the outreach must hold in Isuikwuato this year, I explained the logistics and the huge cost involved. She told me, ‘Don’t worry about logistics.’ She was determined to make it happen,” he said.

Eziechila also recounted one of the most dramatic surgeries performed during the outreach, describing it as a life-saving intervention.

He said what was initially thought to be a routine hernia operation turned out to be a complex emergency after surgeons discovered that the patient’s intestine had become strangulated, cutting off blood supply and causing severe tissue decay.

“The intestine had already turned black and was leaking into the abdominal cavity. We had to carry out an exploratory laparotomy, remove the dead section and reconnect the healthy ends. That operation saved the patient’s life,” he said.

He added that Onyejeocha’s commitment to the outreach has remained unwavering over the years, even when she was out of the office.

“She has always said people should not die simply because she is no longer representing the constituency. That is why this programme has continued for 19 years,” he said. The three-day outreach at Isuikwuato General Hospital provided free laboratory services, medical consultations, specialist surgeries, obstetrics and gynaecology services, ophthalmology care, eye surgeries and free prescription glasses.

More than 500 residents received free eyeglasses, while hundreds of others benefited from various medical interventions.

The second phase of the outreach commenced yesterday at Madam Susan Mba Memorial Health Centre, Ugwuodo Umuaku, Isuochi, in Umunneochi local government area, where medical teams are expected to continue providing free healthcare services for another five days.

According to Onyejeocha’s media office, the annual intervention has, over the past 19 years, covered the cost of surgeries, medications and post-operative care for thousands of residents, restoring health and hope to people across Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency.