About 500 widows and sickle cell sufferers alongside indigent people in Aruogba community in Edo State have benefited from a medical outreach organised by a non-governmental organisation, the Lebarty Community Health Foundation.

Speaking to the beneficiaries on Sunday in Benin City, Dr Nosa Aigbe-Lebarty, president of the NGO, advised residents of the community to take the issue of routine checkups seriously.

He said the medical outreach was in fulfilment of his dream, vision and aspiration to take care of vulnerable persons and the less privileged.

According to him, although they are attending to everyone present, the outreach targets widows, sickle cell patients and the downtrodden.

“We are offering them a general body check, which includes: blood pressure, blood sugar, malaria test, and eye checkups. You can see that we have a team of experts available to attend to as many patients as possible. We also have sufficient drugs to give to those who will need it. There are also free glasses for those who are 40 years and above that need them. We have also made adequate arrangements for referral if the need arises,” he said.

One of the collaborators with Lebarty Community Health Foundation, Itohan Aihie, said, “I see Dr Nosa as a man with great passion who started putting modalities in place to ensure that I join him in seeing his dream come through.’’

Also, Director of Humanitarian Services, the state Ministry of Youth and Humanitarian Affairs, Ezekiel Enipaalu, lauded the effort of the NGO in trying to give back to society.

Mr Enikpaalu encouraged other well-meaning Edo Citizens to emulate Aigbe-Lebarty’s Health Foundation, saying that humanitarian services should be for all.

Meanwhile, the Priest (Ohen) of Aruogba Community, High Chief Jeffery Omosomwan, expressed joy and gratitude to the organisers of the free medical care.

Mr Omosomwan assured them that members of his community would play their part in ensuring that the hospital sited in the community by Aigbe-Lebarty is completed.

The beneficiaries who were overwhelmed with joy prayed for God’s protection and preservation of the organisers of the event.

One of the beneficiaries, Kate Williams, said she was overwhelmed with joy as she was screened, educated and given medications.

(NAN)