BY DENNIS UDOMA, Uyo
The EMOIMEE free medical outreach in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, has been wrapped up at Ikot Idiong in Ibiaku Clan, last weekend with more crowd of patients.
The Programme Coordinator, Prof. Etete Peters said yesterday in Uyo. Akwa Ibom State capital.
He said, the exercise, began on August 12 at the Local Government headquarters and ended on August 24, 2024 at Ikot Idiong saw more patients still crying for help.
Some of the patients thanked the medical team for their painstaking effort in conducting the free services, which covered general medical check ups; blood pressure and diabetes screening; health education/counseling; free medical distribution; free minor surgical procedures; free eye examination and free medical laboratory test among others.
Madam Bessie Akpan and Cesare Sunday who were beemed with hope expressed their excitement on behalf of others saying, “I was brought to this Health Center at Ikot Idiong by my son-in-law for surgery and after everything, I am feeling well”, Madam Bessie said.
For Cesare Sunday, “I had vision problem but, when I was told to come here I didn’t believe my case could be solved because I don’t have anybody to help me. I was tested and after that was given a reading glasses and I can now see and read. I thank God and these medical people for the good work, they have done and I pray they should come again “.
This is after Ikpa Ikono, Ikpa Ibom and Ukpum Minya Clans had taken their turns of similar exercises in the past one week with such expressions of hope and a record of over 1 million patients getting treatment.
The Co – ordinator of the free medical programme, Prof. Etete Peters, thanked the NNPC/MPN JVC, EMOIMEE for the sponsorship explaining that, the exercise was a huge success.
He noted that, the medical exercise was meant for the 7 LGA’s of Eastern Obolo, Mkpat Enin, Onna, Ikot Abasi, Mbo, Esit Eket and Eket( EMOIMEE),was essentially to assist indigenes to access treatment for ( 2 – 3) days in each of the centers, as the programme was taken to them without waiting for the people to come to the hospital.
Prof. Peters maintained that, though the free medical exercise has overshot the 2 million target; higher than the 500 patients per clans basis envisioned, there would be need for frequent exercises to really take the free health package to the people in the rural areas of the local government area.
According to him, “the programme from the beginning has highly enhanced the health benefits of the people of Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, as it has given patients the opportunity to know their health status.
“We know their numbers and, what is required of them and what they in turn have to do, because; ignorance is a very important component in health management. Most of the people may not even know where to access care.
“So, with the free medical outreach they can ask questions and from the enlightenment and the answers we give, they know what to do as we follow up patients”.
Prof. Peters, a former Provost of the Medical College in University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State also appreciated the magnanimity of NNPC/MPN JVC EMOIMEE as organizers for being useful to Mkpat Enin communities through the Community Development Trust Fund to make life meaningful.
He however stated that, with the observed impact of the programme and appreciation by the people, the medical outreach should be made regular or an annual exercise to cater for the health needs of our people in the area.
Earlier, the Board of Trustees (BoT) representative for Mkpat Enin LGA, Engr. Sunny Udoh said, EMOIMEE Host Community Development Trust Fund established by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, to develop communities hosting oil multinational companies, which Mkpat Enin is among.
He said, part of the development initiatives anchored by the Host Community Development Trust Fund, is the free medical services described as a direct life – touching programme.
“The free medical programme we have today, is a direct life touching exercise, in which, people these days who are sick with different ailments, but does not have the money to go to hospitals, would be beneficiaries”, Engr. Udoh stated.
