…flags off treatment on surgeries, kidney, others for over 4000 residents
By Hillary Asemota
The Edo State First Lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, has said that the free medical services she is flagging off for over 4000 residents across the state is in fulfilment of her pledged to render such service if her husband Godwin Obaseki, was returned as Governor.
The outreach, according to her will include surgeries and surgical interventions for kidney, heart, eyes and teeth, and other ailments, is however being organized in partnership with the Association of Nigeria Physicians in the Americas (ANPA), led by Dr. Christopher Okunseri.
Addressing the media on the flag off of the programme, she averred that the free medical care exercise is a way to give back to Edo citizens for their support in ensuring the re-election of Governor Godwin Obaseki during the September 19, 2020 governorship poll.
She said: “The motivation for this medical mission is the support received from Edo people during the governorship election, supporting the governor against all odds and ensuring he gets a second term in office. No better way to say thank you than by providing free medical care for the people.
“The governor set aside millions of naira monthly to settle and offset medical bills of the indigent people in the state. The governor set up the Mercy Committee for those with serious medical needs. This medical mission will address lots of the issues from the Mercy Committee.”
Mrs. Obaseki said the list of indigent patients requiring medical care has all been captured for the free medical mission, noting that some of the services that the people will enjoy include cardiology, nephrology, ophthalmology and dental surgery, among others.
On her part, the Edo State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Obehi Akoria said 4,000 people have been screened for the medical mission, noting that 600 persons require surgical intervention while 300 are ready for surgeries.
She noted that 65 highly qualified specialists are already in the state to team up with 200 volunteers including clinical and none clinical volunteers.
Akoria, added: “13 different theaters will host the surgical needs of patients in this medical mission as specialists from various fields in medicine are on ground to attend to these cases.”
President of the Association of Nigeria Physicians in the Americas (ANPA), Okunseri commended Betsy Obaseki for the initiative, expressing the readiness of his association to deliver quality healthcare services to Edo people.
He said, “Our collaboration is to build capacity and also skill transfer. For the first time in our over 27 years of existence, we will be embarking on tele-medicine which was brought about as COVID-19 ravaged the world.”
