No fewer than 1000 persons comprising of men, women, youths, children, elderly, persons leaving with disabilities and other vulnerable poor residents of Esan North-East Constituency 11 in Edo State, have benefitted from the free medical outreach organised by the Deputy Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Maria Omozele Oligbi-Edeko, as part of efforts to ensure healthcare for her people.
Some of the benefitting communities are Ebhoiyi, Idumonza, Ubierumu-Oke, Efandion, Amedokhain, Onewa, Awo, Eko-Ibadin, Ualor-Oke, Ukoni, Uzea, among others.
Edeko, who represents the industrious people of Esan North-East Constituency 11, carried out the three days free medical outreach in collaboration with the Association of Resident Doctors, Irrua Specialist Teaching hospital, Irrua.
Speaking during the event that took place between November 30 and December 2, Edeko said the medical outreach was organised to give back to the people.
She noted that the effort was part of steps taken to improve healthcare delivery to communities in her constituency, adding that, she had earlier enrolled over 200 vulnerable poor in the state health insurance scheme.
She explained that the beneficiaries had the privilege of having free consultations with a team of over 20 medical experts for different ailments.
“In addition, some screening exercises such as hepatitis B, malaria and sugar test, free dental checks, free eye examination, distribution of free eye glasses and drugs were carried out.
“Crops of highly professional and dedicated doctors from Irrua tertiary hospital were on ground to add to the blessings to our people.
“During the medical outreach, some persons were found to have emergency hypertension while others had cataract and other conditions. They were treated and referred to Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital for follow up,” she said.
According to the Deputy Speaker, next year, by the grace of God and with availability of funds, we will be organising free cataract surgery as we found out during the outreach that many of our elderly parents have cataracts.
“We welcome organisations that may wish to partner with the Deputy Speaker. The medical outreach just made me to discover that there is real poverty in the land, and also, even when there is a teaching hospital and other health institutions around, our people do not take advantage of these health facilities.
“Furthermore, some children just abandoned their parents in the village without proper attention to their health needs. I intend to hold a town hall meeting to encourage children to take good care of their parents by taking them for regular medical check up,” she said.
According to her, my love for humanity and the understanding of my faith motivate me to help my people.
She said, “This is not part of any constituency project, it is my personal initiative and I am using my personal resources.”
She expressed great appreciation to the president and members of the Association of Resident Doctors, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital for the partnership and the provision of quality health care for her people.
