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From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Minister of Niger Delta Development, Hon. Engr. Abubakar Momoh, has called on traditional rulers in the Niger Delta region to mobilize their subjects for the free medical outreach which has commenced in Edo state.
The Minister, who paid a courtesy visit to the Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji Aliru Momoh Ikelebe III, for the purpose of sensitizing his subjects, said the first phase of the free medical outreach he facilitated from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) took place in Delta State while the second phase is here in Edo State.
Represented by Dr. Chris Oghenechovwen, Momoh said the exercise will commence from the 12th to end on the 18th of May 2024 at the Teaching Hospital, Auchi.
He said medical professionals have been mobilized to offer free healthcare services to rural dwellers in Edo State and other neighboring states in the region, and ailments such as eye surgeries, cataract, abdominal surgeries, teeth, fibroid, appendix, children, and adult hernia, among every other form of treatment, would be carried out.
He regretted that so many people in the rural areas lose their lives to curable ailments due to dire economic conditions that make it impossible for many families to afford the cost of treatment and surgeries.
“It has become common for people to carry hernia, cataract, appendix among others for years because they could not afford the cost of surgery hence hernia and goitre surgeries were included in the free medical outreach.
“Please, we need you to sensitize and mobilize your subjects who would be needing this free medical outreach that would commence today until the 18th. We all know health is wealth. Even if you have the whole money and you are not healthy, you have nothing. If you are working and you are not well, you cannot be effective.
“We want to use you as a point of contact to other traditional rulers in Edo North, Edo Central, and Edo South so that they can also mobilize their people for this free treatment”, the Minister said.
The monarch, who appreciated the Minister for facilitating the health initiative, also called for its sustenance while assuring that town criers would be sent round the communities to inform the people about this programme. He also promised to reach out to other traditional rulers to sensitize their subjects while the various mosques and praying centers would also be contacted.
The free medical outreach is designed as a yearly component of the NDDC corporate social responsibility. The 2024 version started in Akwa Ibom state on April 14th and is expected to end in Cross River on June 22nd, 2024.
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