-By Albert OGRAKA:
Wife of Delta state governor, Dame (Mrs.) Edith Okowa has reiterated the commitment of the 05-Initiative and Restore Sight Africa to ensure that the ongoing Grassroots Medical Outreach gets to the 25 local government areas of the state.
Twenty Five Thousand medicated glasses are for grabs by persons with various eye defects across the state. A thousand glasses have been earmarked for each of the 25 local governments. Other free medical services include screening of the eyes, distribution of drugs and checking of BP Patients among others.
In continuation of the Grassroots Medical Outreach in the state, the founder of the 05 Initiative, Dame Edith Okowa, on Monday, April 23, 2018 at the Central Hospital, Agbor, venue of the three days 05 Initiative medical outreach in partnership with Restore Sight Africa and the Ministry of Health, insisted that “the blind would see”, adding that doctors treat but God is the great healer.
She urged Deltans who have been registered to benefit from the free medical treatment to cooperate with the medical personnel to record a successful exercise, and thanking God for the success story from Umunede, Ika North East Local Government where nearly 68 eye surgeries were successfully completed and 568 eye glasses and drugs distributed to people with eye problems.
According to Dame Okowa, “whatever we do, we have to bring in God first, that is why we minister the word of God in anything we do, because there is a belief that with God, all things are possible.”
The governor’s wife who declared the free grassroots medical outreach open, after inspecting the facilities at the Central Hospital, commended the medical teams for their great work in bringing relief to people at the grassroots who have been enmeshed in pathetic conditions of total and partial blindness.
She said the 05 Initiative will sustain the campaign on free medical outreach until everyone in the communities of the 25 local governments in Delta state benefits from the God-driven programme.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of Ika South Local Government Area, Hon. (Barr.) Victor Okoh said that the launching of the 05 Initiative Free Health Programme is an additional platform to deliver free, comprehensive and accessible health care to the people of Delta State.
He commended Dame Okowa for the foresightedness in conceiving this laudable project and bringing this comprehensive, free health programme to the people, adding that his people will make adequate use of the opportunity offered by the free exercise.
“The giant strides made in the health care sector in the state under the administration of His Excellency Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa are not only significant but innovative, which include the free under five and free maternal health packages in all government health facilities, the free health care scheme for the aged – 65 years – and above and widows and the comprehensive health insurance scheme, amongst others”.
Earlier in his goodwill message, Dr. Ernest Ogbedo of the Restore Sight Africa Initiative, disclosed that about 80 per cent of eye problems are mostly in the rural areas, due to ignorance, poverty and illiteracy.
He said that medical personnel who have carried out eye surgeries on patients also go round to monitor the progress of the treatment, adding that the 25 local government areas will not be left out in the course of the free treatment.
While calling on the people to take advantage of the opportunity, he appealed to philanthropists to assist the less privileged among them by ensuring that they benefit from the free grassroots medical outreach throughout the period of the exercise.
Dr Mordi Ononye, Commissioner for Health, who was represented by Dr. Pepple of the Hospitals Management Board (HMB) lauded the efforts of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in the implementation the National Health Act which was conceived by him as then Senator.
The Dein of Agbor, HRM Benjamin Ikenchuku Keagborekuzi I, was represented by Chief Patrick Nwaonicha, Ene Oje-agbe of Agbor Kingdom while the Obi of Abavo, HRM Uche Irenuma II, was repesented by Chief Yusuf, Odafe Akaeze of Abavo Kingdom.
The occasion also featured talk on good nutrition diet to help enhance the eyes and the whole body by the Agbor Zonal Matron, Mrs. Faith Odiase and exaltation by Evang. (Mrs.) Ngozi Bamah, screening of the eyes, distribution of drugs and checking of BP Patients among others.
