More than five hundred (500) people have accessed free medical treatment for different illnesses sponsored by the National Association of Seadogs, NAS in Cross River State, southern Nigeria.
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The residents comprising the elderly, middle aged women, men and very young children converged on the grounds of the Comprehensive Secondary School, Idundun in Akpabuyo local government area within the southern district of Cross River State for the free medical services.
One of the beneficiaries, an elderly woman, Affiong Ekpo, who could barely walk, was full of appreciation to the association, saying “this is indeed an answer to my prayers for medical aide; that I am opportune to partake of the free treatment is wonderful.”
Another resident, Mr. James Umoren said, “what this means is that the people, especially those who cannot afford treatments and those rejected by their family because they do not have money, have been given the opportunity to seek medical treatment at no charge at all. This is a big kudos to NAS”.
Also speaking, the Clan Head of Ukpong Atai community where the outreach held, Etinyin Robert Archibong expressed profound gratitude to thee association for choosing to provide free healthcare services to people within the area.
“I am so happy to have this medical mission and thank the National Association of Seadogs for choosing to hold its free services in our community. I am appealing that the next mission should still be here. I am ever ready to provide the space to host their medical mission,” he appealed.
Supporting The Less Privileged
In a brief remark, the National President of the association, Dr. Joseph Oteri explained that it was customary for its members to undertake humanitarian projects and services across communities, noting “what NAS stands for is to support humanity and the less privilege. So, when we hold our quarterly meeting, we include these kinds of support as part of our activities.
“We identify and select any community that we feel is not receiving adequate health support from government and ensure we give the people the medical services and care they need,” the NAS President said.
Oteri hinted that NAS was also providing borehole to give the existing primary healthcare facility within the area and people in the surrounding premises access to potable drinking water, stating “this medical mission was supposed to be held on the premises of the Primary Healthcare Centre Idundu. But, we were informed that the facility had no good water supply. So, we immediately commissioned a contractor to provide a functional borehole to fulfill that essential need.”
Similarly, the leader of the NAS medical team, Dr. Charles Odemene told journalists that 20 different medical doctors from within the association with support of other healthcare providers volunteered for the mission.
Meanwhile, the association held the 16th edition of the Ralph Opara Memorial Lecture in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, where the former Chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for Recovery of Public Property, Okoi Obono-Obla gave the keynote speech on the theme: “Sink or Swim? Nigeria’s Future and the Impact of Corruption on the Socio-political Economy of Nigeria.”
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