More than one thousand, five hundred people converged on the General Hospital Calabar for a free medical outreach of the wife of the Cross River State Governor, Mrs. Eyoanwan Otu.
The mammoth crowd slowed down traffic along the Mary Slessor avenue and, for the first time in the history of the hospital, filled the large car park but leaving a path for an ambulance ahead of any emergency.
In an interview with Mrs. Akon Jimmy, one of those seeking free medical care, when she arrived at 8 o’clock, the outpatient area was filled to capacity and the hired plastic chairs were completely taken over by the people.
She said, “I came out at about 8 o’clock this morning and no seat inside the building nor under the tent outside. I had to seat just one a pavement by the stairs. I learnt before 6 am a lot of people were already here.”
Another woman, Mrs. Jemima Bisong said,“I developed eye problems recently and could not afford the cost of seeing an optician. But, I am waiting on line to be called. I know I will receive the care and services here free of charge. I am grateful to Bishop Eyoanwan Otu for organising this free outreach.”
In her remark to flag off the free medical outreach, Mrs. Otu described the exercise as the 7th edition undertaken through her pet programme known as Humanity Without Borders (HUWIB) in conjunction with a group of surgeons and medical practitioners from the United States of America referred to as FaithCare Outreach International.
According to Otu, “the outreach is an initiative that enables HUWIB extend vital health services to the most vulnerable among us. It reaches those in our communities who, due to limited resources, are unable to access quality healthcare.
“The testimonies and transformations that we have received has been heart warming and encouraging especially from individuals, who have benefitted from this outreach, particularly those who received free surgeries.
“Many of them had given up hope due to financial constraints. Their stories continue to inspire and rekindle my passion to sustain and expand this programme,” Otu stated.
While reiterating that the goal of the outreach, which is to give hope to the poorest of the poor by prioritising their health and wellbeing, touching lives and changing destinies, she expressed the determination to provide free, quality medical care across the three senatorial districts.
“Through the consistent and selfless partnership of my ‘Co-Visioneers’, Faith-Care International, we have brought smiles, and even tears of joy, to the faces of thousands of Cross Riverians and other Nigerians residing in our state.
Continuing, Mrs. Otu said that since HUWIB started the free outreach, the nonprofit organisation has “recorded remarkable milestones such as conducted 705 free surgeries, 2,138 eye care services, 807 dental care procedures, 898 laboratory investigations with over 5,000 general consultations, which spanned all 18 local government areas.”
She expressed appreciation to the governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu for his support and leadership role, as well as the partner, FaithCare Outreach International for the team of surgeons and medical experts for the weeklong services that would be rendered.
Similarly, the team lead of FaithCare Outreach International, Professor Peter Schantz expressed appreciation to the wife of the governor for collaborating with the organisation, which is indirectly propagating the gospel by offering free quality medical services as a form of love for humanity.
Schnatz said, “We the FaithCare team are here because of the love of Jesus. We have outreaches around the world and have been in Nigeria for 30 years now taking free medical care to people, especially those in the rural communities.
“We are in countries such Haiti, Siberia, the Dominican Republic, Nigeria and next year we will begin in Sierra Leone. The reason is to provide quality healthcare services to the rural people and share the love of Jesus Christ,” he stated.
In a brief remark, the Programmes Manager for HUWIB, Mr. Jeffrey Adamade said that the outreach would cover major and minor surgeries, eye care, dental care, counselling, consultations and distribution of free medicines.
He explained, “The turnout on this first day is massive. This shows the high demand for health services and inability of vulnerable people to pay for the high cost of medical services. For us at HUWIB, we are contributing to providing quality healthcare services at no cost to the people.”
The event featured goodwill messages from the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Egbe Ayuk; the Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Vivian Mesembe Otu and a representative of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency.
The team, after a weeklong intervention in Calabar, covering the seven local government areas of the southern senatorial district, would be moving to Ikom for another round of free services for those in the central senatorial district.