US-based Nigerian doctors provide free medical services to Imo Community
A group of United States-based Nigerian medical doctors has embarked on a four-day free medical mission for more than 3, 000 persons in Atta Nwambiri, Njaba local government area of Imo state.
The programme commenced on April 24 and was on concluded Thursday. The exercise witnessed treatment of men, women, and children with various health challenges at the Egwedu Health Centre, Atta Nwambiri by experts.
Daily Times reports that the free health mission also witnessed presentation of reading glasses, basic laboratory tests, immunization and surgery of some beneficiaries.
The leader of the team, Dr. Alexander Nnabue, said on Thursday that the medical team who participated in the exercise were indigenes of Atta Nwambiri community residing in the United States.
He said that they were worried by the poor health condition of some their people in their country home and felt organizing the medical mission was a better way to impact positively on their health status.
Nnabue, a senior lecturer at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, USA observed that the pitiable health situation had led to many preventable and untimely deaths in the area.
He commended the role of the chairman of the Atta Nwambiri governing council and the Eze’s Cabinet, Chief John Agbasi for facilitating the medical mission through the new Atta Nwambiri Central Union platform.
“As you can see, all of us here are happy that we have come home to give back to our community.
“Over the years, some of us have been looking for ways to contribute to the development of this town, but we noticed that the creation of autonomous communities, rather than enhance development in Atta Nwambiri, deepened disunity of our people.
“We have eight doctors on ground to attend to their vital signs, and take their samples to the laboratories for further investigations and treatment,’’ he said.
He said already, more than 2000 persons have received free eye glasses saying that the exercise would open the door for unity and enduring development in the town.
The optometrist who lamented the poor healthcare delivery system in Nigeria disclosed that he and his colleagues were already planning on how best to equip the Egwedu community hospital to ensure qualitative healthcare services to people of the area.
Speaking on behalf of the three traditional rulers in the area, His Royal Highness Eze Edwin Azike of Atta, who also benefited from the eye check and free glasses service expressed gladness to the organizers of the exercise.
“On behalf of Umunam Atta, Egwedu and Atta, the three autonomous communities that make up Atta Ancient kingdom, we are grateful for this programme, and pray God to reward you abundantly for remembering our sufferings at home.”
