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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The Abia medical outreach which will hold from April 4 – 14 and overseen by the Association of Nigerian Physicians in America (ANPA), would involve 65 doctors who would handle 5,000 patients and 200 surgeries in the state.
This was disclosed by the state Commissioner for Information and Culture, Okey Kanu while briefing newsmen on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting.
“The State government is working with a group of Nigerian physicians who are based in America or are referred to Association of Nigerian Physicians in America ANPA.
“They will be engaging in a medical outreach in Abia State between the 4th and 14th of April and active preparations have kicked off to ensure that the medical outreach turns out very successful.”
Kanu said for that reason, about 65 centres have been identified where Abians who have very serious surgeries or other health issues are expected to register.
“Surgeries will focus on such areas like column cancer, prostrate enlargements. The whole objectives is to ensure that the average Abian is provided with free and easy access to health facilities. It will be a very free exercise. It’s just like the free medical services that we had last year, it will be a free medical outreach for Abians.”
He said the objective of the exercise is to ensure that Abians are provided free and easy access to quality health care.
The Commisioner equally informed that the State government will flag off this year’s polio eradication campaign on Tuesday next week at Isiala Ngwa South local government area.
He called on concerned Abians to take advantage of the opportunity to immunize their children against polio.
Kanu also announced that the Glaucoma week will commence in the State from March 10 – 16, describing glaucoma as the leading cause of blindness across the globe.
The Commissioner for health, Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo said members of the ANPA would arrive the State in less than a month to conduct rare surgeries including Colon Cancer and prostrate surgeries among others.
She advised adults from 40 years and above to visit designated centres across the 3 Senatorial Zones of the State for test before the arrival of the team.
“We are excited and we can’t wait for them to arrive and this is because they are going to be hosting some of the top surgeons that you have in the United States and they are going to be able to conduct some very rare surgeries that we are not able to do right here in Nigeria. Some of them (the surgeries) would have to cost so much for us to do it.”
Equally speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special duties Dr Betty Emeka-Obasi said the focus of the Governor Otti’s administration is to revolutionize the health sector, describing the theme for the Glaucoma week is “Uniting for a Glaucoma free World” as commendable.
She described Glaucoma as genetic and encouraged everyone to troop out en masse for the free test.
