Health

More than 30 medical experts under the aegis of Doctors on the move Africa, an NGO, has commenced a three-day free medical outreach to about 4,000 residents of Lafia, Nasarawa State.

Dr Joseph Kigbu, Leader of the team, disclosed this to newsmen at the inauguration of the outreach on Thursday at the Primary Healthcare Centre located at the Emir’s Palace in Lafia.
He said that the initiative was sponsored by the Federal Government to address the health challenges facing the people in the area, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN.

The team, he said, would provide free screening and treatment of a wide range of illnesses.
The leader said that after the screening and treatment in diseases such as diabetes, hernia, cataract, fibroid and hepatitis, among others, the patients would be given free drugs and reading glasses during the exercise.

“We have specialist medical doctors in various fields of medicine that would cater for the need of these patients free of charge.

“For instance, we have general surgeons, ophthalmologists, pharmacists and nurses participating in the exercise,” Kigbu said.

According to him, a similar outreach is currently ongoing at Panda village in Karu Local Government Area of the state.

Kigbu, a former member of the House of Representatives, representing Lafia/Obi constituency, said the initiative was not politically motivated, but a deliberate intervention aimed at improving the health of the people.

He pointed out that the choice of the PHC at the emir’s palace for the outreach was a mark of honour to the traditional institution, urging residents to take advantage of the exercise to have their healthcare needs met free of charge.

The Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Isa Mustapha-Agwai I, lauded the federal government and the NGO for the intervention aimed at ameliorating the health plight of the less privileged in his domain.

Mustapha-Agwai I, who was represented by the Madakin Lafia, Alhaji Isiaku Dauda, said the medical outreach would go a long way to address most of the health challenges facing the people.

He pledged the emirate’s support towards ensuring the success of the exercise and called on the people to avail themselves of the opportunity to better their lot.