ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
The Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has donated over 150 eyeglasses, mosquito nets as it embarked on free medical outreach to the people of Odoni community, Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.
The programme was organised in honour of the late Elizabeth Alagoa, mother of the Chief Medical Director, FMC, Dr Dennis Alagoa, who died at 91 recently.
The outreach programme, which was part of the activities to mark her funeral, scheduled for December 17, saw over 800 residents of the community tested and given medications and surgery services for different ailments.
The residents were treated freely. There were free eye tests, dental checks, an awareness seminar on Hepatitis B, among other medical services during the outreach.
The Chief Medical Director, Dr Dennis Alagoa, said the gesture was in memory of his late mother, who wanted to become a nurse in her tender age but could not achieve it due to certain circumstances.
The CMD said that no fewer than 800 residents of the community benefitted from the programme, noting that it was done in honour of his mother who wanted to impact people’s lives through nursing.
He said: “Today we are reaching out to her people in her memory which lives forever in our heart. We have given eyeglasses, done free tests, and given free distribution of medical equipment to the health centre for the health of the Odoni people.
“The opportunity God has given to us, we want to use it to reach out to the people. God knows why He put us in the Odoni community.”
First son of the deceased, Mr Chris Hannasah, said the brother, who is the CMD, organised the medical outreach to benefit members of the community where their mother came from.
He said that the people were overwhelmed with the gesture as the whole community embraced it holistically.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Organising Committee of the medical outreach, Dr Obioma Obikeze, said that the outreach was intended to address the healthcare challenges of the Odoni community.
He said the essence was to meet those who could not access healthcare needs as well as those who could not afford paying the exorbitant hospital bills.
In his address, the Paramount Ruler of Odoni Community, King Pere Albert, said the free medical outreach gladdened his heart as people turned out en masse for the programme.
He said they had it in mind to organise a free medical outreach for the people next month but that their son had brought it to their doorstep.
The monarch said it was a very big relief to the community, as most of them could not take care of their health issues because of paucity of funds.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Ebiakpo Ebidor, thanked the organisers for the opportunity.
He said: “I came here to avail myself of the opportunity that is available to everybody else. I checked my blood sugar level, did eye test, blood pressure and also received medication at the pharmacy.”
One of the community leaders, Chief Nikadei Omemu, thanked the CMD for the free medical outreach, saying it enabled them and their children to access quality health services without paying for them.