Delta Community decries lack of medical facilities – commends OMIWA Foundation for bridging the gap in healthcare delivery.
The people of Ezi Community in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State have lamented absence of health facilities in the area. They appealed to OMIWA Foundation, an international non-profit organization dedicated to bridging the healthcare gap in remote Nigerian villages to continue to provide healthcare to the community.
Omiwa Foundation has been providing free-medical services to communities in Delta State for years now.
The community spoke last week in Ezi Town Hall through various beneficiaries, during a free-medical outreach organized by OMIWA Foundation, where a total of 273 patients were treated of various diseases.
This newspaper gathered that to date, OMIWA Foundation has relentlessly put smiles on the faces of many individuals from different communities through free-medical interventions. The just concluded free-medical outreach to Ezi community on October 26 and 27, 2024 marked the 31st free-medical mission completed by the Foundation so far. A milestone that only a few if any foundation has achieved in Nigeria.
Some of the beneficiaries lamented that the only time they accessed healthcare service outside traditional methods is when OMIWA Foundation team comes to their community.
Speaking in unison in their separate remarks, Mr. Paschal Nwafor, Mr. Sunny Ndikanwe and Mrs. Chinyere (beneficiaries) said “we lack healthcare centers in almost all the communities in this state, “we travel to other communities when we hear that Omiwa Foundation is coming to that community, because that is the only chance we have”. Thus, there is no place for follow-up visit unless OMIWA Foundation team comes back again. We have received several promises of help from those we voted for and none of them has come through for us. Diabetes, dental problems, and hypertension are killing many of our people. Many of our children and even adults have not been immunized. We do not have any place for our pregnant mothers and wives to go for care. Many of them carry pregnancies to term without pre-natal care thus leading to birth complications and, in most cases, maternal death. We cannot go to any regular hospital because of high cost of medical care in the State. Many people have died from curable and preventable diseases and illnesses”.
Responding to questions from newsmen shortly after the flagged off ceremony, the lead physician of OMIWA Foundation’s Medical Team, Dr. Steve Ugbome, appealed to the media to encourage all well-meaning individuals and groups to find ways to support health care delivery in the local communities.
Addressing the patients during the Health Talk, Dr. Ugbome advised them to stay away from self medication and always visit the primary health center nearest to them if they find one. Adding that they should take checking of their vital signs very important. “If possible make it a daily ritual to check your blood pressure”.
Chief Anthony Ezeagwu thanked Omiwa Foundation for choosing Ezi for the free-medical outreach, and appealed to the group to return to Ezi for a repeat of the good work so that others can benefit.
Responding, OMIWA Foundation’s Coordinator in Nigeria Mr. Tohan Okenyi said they chose the community to carryout the 31st free Medical Outreach in view of its peculiar terrain. He thanked the community for their love and hospitality.
The event was officially flagged-off by Chief Dan Okenyi former commissioner for Lands and Survey, Delta state. Also present was Hon. Ebegbuna Louis Obiajulu, the Supervisory Councilor for Finance, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The presentation of Certificate of Participant to the Medical Team was done by Hon Chief Anthony Ezeagwu, the Ocheindo of Ezi Kingdom.
The highlight of the event was the offering of free-medical services and healthcare talk to Ezi Community by the OMIWA Foundation’s Medical experts.
