About 1,500 persons will benefit from a medical outreach programmme organised by the National Association of Seadogs (NAS) in Owo Community, Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Speaking at the event on Saturday, the Vice President, NAS, Enugu State branch, Dr Ogbodo Okechukwu, said that Owo community was chosen because of its peculiarity, and number of vulnerable persons.

A consultant public health physician, Okechukwu, said that the quarterly exercise had been held in Nsukka, Iva-Valley, Enugu and Awgu areas of the state.

“Our target is 1,500 persons, and I am sure that we will achieve this target. We are partnering UNICEF, Parklane and other organisations to do this,” he said.

Also speaking, the Head of the Medical Team, Dr Godfrey Anthony, said that the association spent about N3.5 million to implement the outreach.

He said that thorough community-based consultations were done with stakeholders to ensure adequate sensitisation ahead of the outreach.

The outreach featured consultations, blood pressure checks, eye screening, blood sugar test, malaria, diabetes and prostrate diagnosis among others.

Some of the beneficiaries told journalists that the medical outreach was a source of relief to them.

They commended the association for the gesture, describing it as timely and well-intended.

A resident of Ubahu Village,  Augustine Nnamani, said that he brought his mother for medical checks, and was treated for ulcer.

“This is fantastic and life-saving for our community.  I thank the organisers for the gesture, I urge them to always come back to help us,” he said.

Mr Donatus Ede from Ashi-Owo Village, also thanked NAS for the medical intervention, saying that the exercise has offered hope to members of the community.

“This is very nice, we want you to organise this outreach from time to time. You have indeed brought smiles to our faces,” he said.

Eucharia Amuche, described the outreach as a source of hope for the people, saying that she was tested and given treatment for malaria drugs. 

Another beneficiary, Cyril Ani, said that the outreach was a dream come true for him.

He said, “I came to complain about my sight, so after being checked, they gave me eye glasses. This has been a challenge to me for a long time.”

(NAN)