From David Onwuchekwa, Nnewi
As part of its social responsibility efforts, the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra State on Saturday treated hundreds of outpatients at the palace of the traditional ruler of Nnewi, Igwe Kenneth Orizu III.
The medical outreach was organised by the Department of Community Medicine of the Health Institution with Professor Chika Ubajaka as the head of the department.
According to Prof Ubajaka, the outreach which the NAUTH organised in partnership with ME Uduezue and Sons Ent Ltd was meant for those living in Nnewi and its environs.
“We are screening patients for common ailments, giving them eye care services, allowing them for health consultations and also ensuring health promotion. We carry out medical outreach to provide free medical services to the residents with free drugs.
“We chose Igwe’s palace for convenience because it’s strategic and central. These medical outreach services have been going on since 2022. NAUTH has been sponsoring it.
“The outreach has the capacity to take care of up to 700 outpatients and even more. If our capacity is overstretched, we can refer the patients. And our qualified medical personnel are on the ground to do their job for the overall success of the programme, ” she said.
Hundreds of outpatients were seen milling within the palace.
Prof Ubajaka said the whole idea was to have primary healthcare for the residents. She explained that a good number of medical personnel were on the ground to attend to the patients. She assured that those who were engaged would take care of all issues including eye, ulcer, asthma, arthritis, malaria and other manner of ailments.
“We have lots of drugs, eyeglasses and all of that ready for anybody who comes for medical attention, ” she explained.
Dr Ahaoma Mbanuzuo, a consultant at the Department of Community Medicine and Primary Healthcare and also Chairman, Association of Health Physicians of Nigeria, said in his health talk that residents should use the opportunity to know their health status for subsequent medical attention.
Dr Uzoma Chidiokeke in his talk also told the patients to be mindful of such sicknesses as diabetes and high blood pressure, saying that they should always have a medical examination to know when those health challenges were in their system for remedies.
The outpatients were advised to eat healthy food and beware of food that contains caffeine like kola nuts and coffee. They were also advised to take enough sleep and water.