By Victor Akaa
The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in collaboration with Vision Savers Eye Care, held a 3 day enlightenment campaign for the Niger Deltans on HIV/AIDS, Roll Back Malaria, Cancer, and Eye Care at General Hospital Kiagbodo, Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State over the weekend.
In a statement issued by the deputy director of press in the ministry Stephen Kilebi says free medical tests,eye surgery, glasses and drugs were given to not less than 800 beneficiaries.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs Aminu Aliyu Bisalla, said the enlightenment programme would afford the beneficiaries the opportunity to consult the doctors on communicable and non-communicable diseases, enlightenment on prevention and management of diseases.
The Permanent Secretary who was represented by Mr. Haman Ndahi, Director Reforms, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, said that 19 communities around Kiagbodo were sensitised to participate at the health intervention programme.
Bisalla assured that the Federal Government was committed to reach out to more communities in the Niger Delta region with the health out reach programme.
“What we are doing here today is a free health intervention programme from the Ministry of Niger-Delta Affairs. This intervention is aimed at improving the quality of health of the people in this environment and beyond, ” Bisalla said.
The Consultant of Vision Savers Eye Care, Dr. Murtala Muhammed Umar, while educating the people on eye care admonished them to take proper care of the eye.
“The eye is an organ of beauty which is essential to good heath and must be properly taken care of”, he said.
Another doctor on general health, Dr.Ajis Eleazar said that through the free medical consultations, diseases like diabetes, hypertension, sickle cell, and brain tumours could be diagnosed and treated.
Dr. Eleazar advised and employed the Niger Deltans to make themselves available for the health out reach programme to benefit from the various programmes designed for them.
Also speaking, the High Chief Andrew Sigana Akpasele (The Tonkepa of Ngbilebiri-Mein Kingdom), Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State commended the Federal Government for the health out reach programme and called on other communities under his kingdom and neighbouring villages to embrace the programme.
The Regent also appealed to the Federal Government to extend the kind gesture to the riverine areas who may find it difficult to reach Kiagbodo for the very important event.
One of the beneficiaries, elder Johnson Ogberekoko, a retired civil servant applauded the organisers of the programme saying it has touched his life positively.
“I am so happy, it was a great experience I just received my free drugs, and free eye glasses. I appreciate the Federal Government for this good gesture to our people.”
The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs organised a similar health out reach programme at Nko in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State last week.
Plans are on to take the programme to other communities in the Niger Delta region.
