Nigeria: Ibeme Community enjoy free medical care
By Chinyere Ogbonna- No fewer than a thousand people from Ibeme community in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo state, southeast Nigeria have benefited from a free medical screening and treatment for various ailments. The Medical Mission, second in its series tagged, “Health Mission Ibeme” was courtesy a US based Nigerian Catholic Priest, who passionate about the well-being of his people, the Reverend Dr. Ngozi Osuji.
People were screened and treated free of any form charges for various medical conditions including Malaria, Typhoid, diabetes, high blood pressure, and eye problems to mention a few.
Optometrists Screening patients for problems
Speaking on why a medical mission became necessary for the community, the initiator and convener of the programme, the Reverend Dr. Ngozi Osuji, said the exercise became necessary because of the issue of fake unwholesome medications in circulation in the country which makes it difficult for people to be healed of their ailments after taking recommended dosage of drugs.
” The number of adulterated drugs in circulation compelled me to seek a way to help. I talked to my private physician in New York, and other health providers to donate medicines towards the overall benefits of the sick and in-firmed”.
Display of medications for the medical mission
“In light of the challenging health conditions that are numerous in Ibeme community and elsewhere in the country and juxtaposing them with the shortage or complete lack of adequate medicines towards this course. My part of the sacrifice was and still is the cost of shipping and handling. However, I had to bear the cost, considering the necessity”.
The Reverend Dr. Osuji who lost his older brother on the second of January 2008, said he chose the second of January every year to memorize the death of his late brother, Don Dele Osuji who cared so much for the downtrodden in the community.
“In choosing a date, I decided to memorialize my late brother, Don Osuji, who cared very much for the poor, the indigent and the mendicant in our community. All things being equal, I will maintain that date for the Medical Outreach at Ibeme”.
Assessing the last two series of the Medical Mission, the cleric noted that prior to the Programme, he was bringing in various medications and distributed them with the assistance of health care providers to the needy in Ibeme and other neighbouring communities.
The Convener Of the Medical Mission, The Reverend Dr. Ngozi Osuji
“Thus far, the two events have exceeded any human expectation. Prior to the events, I would bring in prescribed and across the counter medications and distributed them at the local church with the help of health providers in attendance. After a rethink, I appealed to anyone in medical profession to help”.
“This made our Medical Mission and Outreach a huge success”.
Like any other project sustainability of the programme is critical. However, the Reverend Dr. Osuji said things would sort themselves out as time goes on.
“How I will sustain the ongoing event is up for grabs. I will not live in America forever. At some point, I must return to Nigeria. The swing of the pendulum will definitely change. However, I’m least concerned about it. When we get to that bridge, we’ll cross it”
As time goes on do you intend to incorporate some forms of surgeries like eye surgery etc. into the exercise as is applicable in some other missions?
“Surgery of any form or shape requires a pre-and post-surgery strict assessments and attention to avoid any complications. Our present outreach location does not have any such luxury. What the team of physicians in attendance do with complicated cases is make referrals for the patients”.
The turnout of people for the exercise was unprecedented. A lot of people went home with not only their medications but also took home various raw and cooked food including can foods.
Nneoma Mabel Osuji, the Mother of the Converner of the Medical Mission Exchanging Pleasantries with one of the aged beneficiary
Many of the beneficiaries were full of gratitude to God for giving them a son like the Reverend Dr. Ngozi Osuji who always sees the need to care for their basic needs such as healthcare which many cannot afford. She said they are looking forward to the next edition of the Health Mission.
One of them in her eighties, mama as was fondly called, who spoke to Shout-Africa on the event in her native dialect, prayed for God’s continuous guidance upon his life, to provide for him the resources to sustain the programme and give him good health and long life. Describing him as a God sent to the people of Ibeme”.
The beneficiaries cut across all ages, including children, youths and the aged.
Participants at the Health Mission Ibeme waiting to be screened
Many of the beneficiaries were given free eye glasses and other medications. They were also fed, while many of them also went home with raw foods including can foods.
The exercise which was designed for citizens of Ibeme also had people from neighbouring communities such as Ogbo, Obolo Ugiri and parts of Ikeduru in attendance.
