AHOADA FREE MEDICAL OUTREACH: Council Chairman Appeals For Extension . . . Foundation Chairperson Commends LGA Boss For His Roles
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Hon. Barr. Ben Israel Eke
by Pearl HaroldThe Executive Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, Hon Barr Ben Eke, has appealed for an extension of the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation powered free medical treatment in the area.
Eke said the appeal is necessitated by his desire for the people to access free medical care from the personnel who have exhibited high level of professionalism.
The chairman made the call during the formal opening ceremony of the free medical care on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at Ultra Modern Primary Health Centre, Ahoada Town.
He promised to continue his logistics collaboration if the request is granted.
The Council Boss further hinted that outside his provision of accommodation, feeding and other logistics, he procured a 100/KVA power generating set for an uninterrupted power supply within the days of the programme.
He applauded the foundation for always enlisting the LGA on its people oriented programmes, imagining how the more than 100 surgery beneficiaries would have fared in the present economic crunch if not for the stop gap programme.
Eke stated that though the Council had carried out a similar programme last year to all Wards, the one by the foundation surpassed it since it comes with surgery benefits.
He urged the people and residents of the area to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation to get free treatment and operation as the case may be.
Speaking earlier, the Ekpeye Supreme Monarch, His Imperial Majesty, Eze Amb. Sir Kelvin Ngozi Anugwo Ph.D, JP, Eze Ekpeye Logbo III, Akalaka XII, thanked the foundation for its unwaivering support to humanity through its medical outreach.
The Ekpeye Supreme Monarch also commended the Council Boss for his role in making the free medical treatment a reality.
He said he was happy that the outreach in Ekpeye was unique and had surpassed the existing records in the Foundation’s history, and appealed that the people should avail themselves of the opportunity to get free medical care.
Earlier, Eze Anugwo in his palace at Ula Upata had traditionally adopted the chairperson of O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation, Dr Seinye Lulu-Briggs as a daughter of Ekpeye land, with a title, “Ununwe gwoduma Emene Ekpeye 1 of Ekpeyeland” which in translation means “Woman who cured the people of Ekpeyeland”.
Speaking also during the ceremony, the Chairperson of the foundation , Dr Seinye Lulu-Briggs commended the Ahoada East Local Government Area chairman for assisting in making the programme a success through his provision of accomodations and food for the large free medical Team, adding that the hand of fellowship and support had given hope, succour to those who have long been marginalized.
She recalled that the foundation had carried out a free medical treatment in the LGA in 2007, where 4,502 patients were treated at the General Hospital, Ahoada.
The foundation Chairperson explained that its objective does not include taking over the government responsibility but to bridge the gap in providing succour to those who need medical attention but could not access it due to financial challenges.
She stated that at the end of the second day, a total of 109 surgeries have been successfully carried out, including C Section, Eye, etc. While treated patients were about 2000.
One of the beneficiaries of the free medical outreach, Henry Oye, said he could not use his eyes effectively but after the surgery on Sunday evening, he can see clearly.
He prayed that God Almighty continued to bless the foundation Chairperson beyond human comprehension.
Another lady beneficiary said she had a seamless C Section of a set of twins, added that she was more than a week overdue but because of money where she registered refused to carry out the recommended operation on her.
Many patients testified on the professional conduct of the medical team.
