By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo.
Determined to give hope and ensure the well-being of the underprivileged in the society, Bridge Care Foundation, a US based humanitarian organisation has organised a free healthcare in Awa Afaha Clan, Onna in Akwa Ibom state.
During the one-day exercise which took place at Awa Ndon Primary School ground, over 40 health workers including physicians, nurses, pharmacists among others were brought to provide non surgical medical services to hundreds of people in the area.
Among the services carried out included hypertension, diabetes, malaria, breast and prostate checks, aches as well as pains screening. Others included, HIVS/AIDS screening, ulcers and other infections.
The free healthcare was organised in conjunction with Akwa Ibom State Association of Nigeria (AKISAN), Florida Chapter and Ibom community health alliance.
Commenting on the gesture, the clan head of Awa Afaha, Etebom Raymond Inyang expressed delight at the gesture, describing it as a laudable programme and first in the history of the people of the clan.
“We have never had this kind of programme before; it is something that should be done periodically to give the people a sense of belonging. We are grateful to the organisers of this noble cause,’’ Etebom Inyang said.
According to him, the idea to provide the community with free healthcare came when he visited US in September this year adding that he found an indigene of the area, Ini Ray Inyang who was ready and willing to bring her expertise and resource to bear on the scheme.
The project director of bridge care foundation, Ini Inyang said she was motivated to provide the community with free healthcare as a way of giving something back to the community maintaining that the plan is to have it done every year.
“It is important to give back to the society, if we go out, it is the responsibility of everybody to come back and provide a service to the people, this is a non surgical free healthcare scheme, the goal is that it will include surgical in future,’’ she said.
Among those who benefitted from the scheme were village heads who were given special attention, women, children, men and youths who turned up in their numbers.
Our correspondent learnt from the health workers that the most prevalent ailments during the one-day free health screening and treatment were malaria, diabetes and hypertension.
