2000 patients benefit from NDDC free healthcare in Abia

The Niger Delta Development Commission said over 2000 patients benefitted from the first phase of its Free Health Medical Outreach in Ukwa General Hospital, Oke Ikpe in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State.

The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, disclosed this while speaking at the week-long free healthcare programme.

This was contained in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Friday, by the NDDC Director, Corporate Affairs, Pius Ughakpoteni, and sent to newsmen.

Ogbuku stated that free healthcare was organised in partnership with Derums Global Services to bring healthcare to rural communities across the Niger Delta region.

Ogbuku, represented by the Abia State representative on the NDDC Board, Chief Eruba Dimgba, said the medical outreach programme was targeted at changing the health situation and narrative of the medically underserved people in the Region.

He remarked, “The program had in the recent past, been the flagship of the Commission, serving to endear the Commission to these medically needy communities, with documented evidence and testimonies, abounding of their beneficial impact in enhancing the quality of life of the rural poor in the Region.

“The objective of the programme undertaken, in collaboration with various healthcare organisations, is to ensure access to good healthcare services by removing financial barriers to accessing good and qualitative healthcare services, posed by the prevailing high costs of healthcare services in the midst of a weakened Health system and infrastructure.

“So far over 2000 patients have benefited from the free healthcare programme which is in tandem with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hoped Agenda’ to restore the hope of Nigerians and we are impressed with the caliber of medical professionals handling this. ”

The NDDC Chief Executive Officer said that as an interventionist agency, the Commission had championed good health as being integral to the successful realisation of its mandate in facilitating the sustainable development of the Niger Delta Region.

He said, “This is in line with the position adopted by Mr President during the commemoration of the 2023 World Universal Health Coverage Day with the Theme: Health for All, Time for Action, where he emphasized the import of placing health and social well -being of Nigerians as a key part of his Renewed Hope Agenda.”

In his remarks, the NDDC Director, Abia State office, Azubike Nwubani, commended the current leadership of the Commission for providing a platform through which the healthcare needs of the people could be addressed. He urged the people of Ukwa West and other neighbouring communities to avail themselves of the medical services.

The Chief Medical Director, Ukwa General Hospital, Dr Dennis Nwogwu, commended the NDDC for providing a platform through which the healthcare needs of the people could be addressed

Nwogwu thanked the NDDC for the gesture and charged residents of the state to avail themselves of the medical services.

Giving a goodwill message, the Chairman, Ukwa Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Chinyere Dike, expressed appreciation to the NDDC for the free health programme.

Dike noted, however, that the one-week duration for the programme was not enough to take care of all the numerous patients desirous of the medical intervention.