Prof. Peter Akah, a professor of Pharmacology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has organised a free healthcare services to over 1,000 residents of Okporo Community in Orlu Local Government Area of the state.
Akah, former acting Vice Chancellor, Imo State University, who hails from the community, also inaugurated a Clinic in the area.
He said that the project was initiated to address the health challenges of the vulnerable members of Umunyem-Umuebele Village in Okporo Community, especially the aged, women and children.
‘Sincerely, if I had 20 calls in a day, 18 of them ask for money to buy drugs, not even food. I know how much it is to pay for consultancy, let alone hospital bills and I can imagine what people in the village go through,’ Akah said.
According to him, many of the villagers are moving around with malaria and typhoid, prostate cancer, ulcer, diabetes and partial stroke without proper medical attention.
Reacting to the development, the President of the town’s union, Chief John Egolu, thanked Ak
ah for the health outreach and establishment of a clinic in the area.
‘A visit to the facility shows that there are beds and full theatre for surgery and there is a promise that more equipment would be brought, subsequently.
‘This vision of our dear son, Prof. Akah, is that which will in no small measure help our people, especially by getting healthcare services closer to them,’ he said.
A 67-year-old stroke patient, Mr Charles Okechukwu, said the gesture was ‘God sent to help the less privileged in the community. We have never seen this type of medical care in our village.’
Another beneficiary of the health mission, Mrs Fidelia Ibemike, 89, said the health facility had brought healthcare services closer to the people.
Ibemike said that the facility would reduce the sufferings usually encountered in traveling to other communities for medical treatment.
She said that many aged persons have died in their homes because they lacked the money to seek medical attention.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria