No fewer than three hundred elderly men and women during the weekend benefited from a community service oriented group under the aegies of Topical Gate Foundation and Sustainable Development in collaboration with Salvation Army Corps, in Aguata, Anambra state.
The medical outreach was aimed at assisting those who could not afford the exorbitant hospital bills, undergo free diagnosis, treatment and care of various ailment ranging from prostate, hypertension, blood sugar level, malaria, typhoid, diabetes, and HIV, among others.
Chief executive Officer, Tropical Gate foundation in his speech stated that the living conditions of the rural populace in Aguata is of great concern which has neccesited the need to offer free medical services to the downtrodden.
The resident doctor, Edison Okonkwo, explained the outreach as being different from the past ones because “we are no just working based on clinical diagnosis but it included conducting test on patients by the lab scientist. We are undergoing malaria test, HIV, sugar and blood level, most importantly for prostate and other minor ailments. This is good and I must commend the organisers of this outreach”.
Dr. Edison equally urged those yet to benefit to come out and participate as most people have one hidden sickness or the other and only through proper diagnosis can it be treated than patronising local chemists who are not professionals.
The pastor in charge of Salvation Army, Lt Henry Igbobuihe explained that the outreach was a way of reaching to the unreached especially those who cannot afford the medical expenses. “This is an opportunity for the needy to access free health care. The last medical outreach had no fewer than thirty people who went through successful surgeries without paying a dime.
Contributing, head of strategic planning for the outreach programme, Mr. Obiora Agbaseire said the theme of the outreach was taken from Jeremiah chapter 8 vs 22 where God was asking his people, is there no physician in the land. He noted that the essence of the programme wss to occupy that position in the land whereby “we provide medical assistance to the people especially the less privileged and fuflfil the promise. The three days encounter was a time for healing, and testimony to the goodness of God”.
