Foundation takes free medical outreach to 3,000 Abia residents

No fewer than 3,000 persons in Umahia, Abia State have benefited from a free medical outreach organised by Connak Foundation in collaboration with FaithCare, a United States-based Non-Governmental Organisation.

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During the five-day event, patients with different health challenges were treated, while surgical interventions were carried out on extreme cases.

The Chief Executive Officer of the NGO, Mrs. Carole Emeka-Sunday, said during the 2023 edition of the annual event, the medical team conducted 177 surgeries that included fibroid, hernia and goitre.

She also added that the team handled 1,016 eye cases and gave out glasses as well as drugs. She added that more than 196 dental patients were attended to, while about 100 patients received physiotherapy care.

Emeka-Sunday further said that 55 wheelchairs and 20 crutches were given out respectively to persons in need of them, while 110 Blood Pressure Monitors were likewise distributed during the outreach.

She however noted that the medical team comprised 76 medical personnel, including 32 from the U.S, supported by their 44 Nigerian counterparts.

She also revealed that the icing on the cake during the outreach was defraying of caesarian section cost for an indigent couple that had a baby boy.

She disclosed that a Director of FaithCare and Consultant Surgeon, Dr. Monday Yilkudi, was the medical team Lead for the outreach.

Emeka-Sunday explained that the NGO, which was founded by Mr. Ken Ukeagu in 2012, started by providing revolving soft loans for indigent widows of Umuogho, Okpuala and Afuguri in Umuahia North Local Government Area of the state.

She said, “Over time, the foundation introduced a scholarship scheme up to the university level and adoption of educationally-inclined children from poor backgrounds in the community.

“The motivation came from a heart of love and huge desire by the founder to help humanity,” she added.

According to her, the organisation desired to do more to support humanity, but it was constrained by limited resources and manpower.

“We could have been happier to take on all the goitre cases, perhaps doing about 100 surgeries per day, if we had the needed funding and medical personnel.

“This is why we are asking for more collaborators and sponsors so we could raise enough funds to engage more medical personnel for us to do more interventions,” she added.

Likewise, she disclosed that the foundation donated a 150KVA sound-proof generator to Madonna Catholic Hospital, Umuahia, venue of the outreach, for lending its facilities for the programme.

Wumi/Punch