No fewer than 500 persons in Onitsha, Anambra State have benefited from a free medical and empowerment outreach programme organised by Doctor Chioma Awuzie Foundation (DCAF), a non-governmental organisation.
The medical outreach which targeted children, men, women and the aged, covered Typhoid, Malaria and Hepatitis B tests, HIV screening, Syphilis, Blood pressure level, Blood sugar level, Urinalysis and distribution of free drugs.
Dr Chioma Awuzie, founder, DCAF, said that doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and others healthcare workers were deployed for the outreach to bring healthcare to people in area.
She said: “I have a call to reach out to the underprivileged around me, which is why we are holding this medical outreach and empowerment of women and youths
“We decided to bring healthcare services closer to the people at no cost at all, because access to medical care is a big challenge in Nigeria.
“A lot of people with one underlying ailment or the other are dying in silence because they can not afford the hospital bills.
“Many women and youths have learnt one trade or the other but they do not have the capital and equipment to start up. The foundation is empowering some indigent women and youths so thy can be self-reliant.”
Awuzie urged wealthy individuals to reach out to the underprivileged around them to reduce poverty in the country.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke with journalists were elated by the free medical outreach.
Mrs Christiana Chukwuonye, 67, thanked DCAF for the outreach saying it availed her the opportunity to know her current health status free and without going to the hospital.
Also, Pa Pius Okafor, commended the foundation for the outreach and appealed to government to conduct free medical outreaches especially in the rural areas.
“I live in the village and we do not get this kind of outreach. But I was opportuned to benefit today because I came to visit my children in Onitsha,” he said.
The foundation also distributed clothing materials and food items to indigent widows, donated refrigerators, electrical cooling appliances, clippers, digital cameras and laptops to women and youth entrepreneurs.
It also disbursed start-up funds to petty traders to promote women empowerment and youth investment for poverty reduction.
