Committed to facilitating access to quality healthcare services by vulnerable households in Cross River State and surrounding communities, the Wife of the State Governor, Bishop Eyoanwan-Itam Bassey Otu has concluded the 11th edition of her Free Medical Outreach with 167 major and minor surgeries.
The medical outreach held at the General Hospital, Okpoma, Yala Local Government Area in collaboration with Faith Care International, for the residents of the Northern Senatorial District also recorded 1,697 general consultations, 530 eye consultations with 232 eye glasses distributed, 82 dental care, and 253 laboratory investigations.
Giving an update of the intervention, the Special Assistant to the Governor’s wife on Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Mr. Jeffery Adamade informed that the initiative is borne out of the desire of the Governor’s wife to extend quality and extensive health care services especially for surgical cases to the vulnerable in the State, thereby reducing medical expenditure for residents of rural communities.
Mr. Adamade noted that, “the testimonies and transformation that we have received thus far from individuals who have benefitted from this initiative is heartwarming and encouraging, particularly those who have received life changing free surgeries. Many of them have given up hope due to financial constraints and their stories continue to inspire and rekindle my passion to extend and expand this programme.”
On his part, the Nigeria Chapter Director, Faith Care International, Prof. Monday Yikuldi, lauded the efforts of the Governor’s wife for her interest in the health and welfare of the people. He described her passion for a healthy citizenry as unprecedented and called on philanthropists in the State to emulate and support her towards ensuring the health needs of the people are met.
According to him, the programme is significantly reducing the cost of accessing healthcare by bringing services directly to rural communities where access is limited. He described the outreach as one of the most impactful health interventions under the administration of Governor Bassey Otu, noting that it complements ongoing efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery in the State.
The Executive Chairman, Yala Local Government Area, Dr. Fred Okem appreciated the Governor’s wife for her compassion to the health care of vulnerable residents in rural communities, noting that the free medical outreach has brought relief and joy to the people of Yala and surrounding communities, describing the gesture as priceless and soul lifting.
He informed that the smiles and tears of joy in the faces of beneficiaries, especially of the free surgeries shows the impact of the medical outreach, pointing out that the outreach has brought effective medical care to the people at no cost, especially for those who have lived with certain ailment for years, needing surgery but not able to afford one.
A beneficiary of thyroidectomy (goitre surgery), Ms. Sonia Odum, appreciated the Governor’s wife for the free medical outreach initiative. She described the governor’s wife as a nurturer, who cares about the welfare of her children, lauding her for making her smile and also putting smiles on the faces of the less privileged in the Northern Senatorial District.
Esther Okoi
