•Amenu Welfare Union’s free medical outreach holds in Uburu
For residents of Amenu and neighbouring villages in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, there is cause to celebrate. The much anticipated free medical outreach being put together put together by Amenu Welfare Union (AWU), Lagos branch in partnership with David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu will hold between December 30 and 31, 2024. Venue is Aja Amenu, Uburu.
According to the organisers of the programme, over 1000 patients battling different ailments are expected to benefit from the free medical outreach.
The chairman of the medical outreach planning committee, Bro. Joseph Chukwu, “the project is designed by the Amenu Welfare Union, Lagos to give back to our community, Uburu by providing medical support to our people, especially to the most vulnerable.”
Quoting the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, Ebonyi State Ministry of Health, World Health Organization
and UNICEF, Chukwu explained that the exercise will cover diseases prevalent in the area, among others.
He said: “We shall be providing support to tackle specific health challenges such as malaria, which currently has 45.6% prevalence rate in Ohaozara LGA (higher than national average); hypertension, which has 33.3% prevalence rate among adults (2018) and the cause of the many sudden deaths recorded among our people; rheumatoid arthritis with a 1.45 prevalence rate in the South East (highest in Nigeria) mostly affecting our aged mothers; optical service; HIV/AIDS (counselling) 5.6% prevalence rate (higher than national average); diarrhea – 17.5% prevalence among under-5 children (2018) and mental health – 25.4% prevalence of depression among adults (2018) so many of whom are also exposed to drugs.
“If we do not take care of our own, no one else will. This year, we are targeting to treat 1,000 cases, only with your support.”
He therefore appealed for support from individuals and public-spirited so the objective of the project will be achieved. He also enlisted the support of healthcare professionals volunteers that wish to be part of the project.
“We are calling on all doctors, nurses, lab technicians, pharmacists and optometrists etc of Uburu descent to kindly volunteer to serve our community in the forth coming free medical outreach powered by AWU Lagos,” he appealed.
He thanked those who have assisted in one way or another but added that more assistance is needed to achieve the desired outcome.