The Mediatrix Development Foundation, MDF, an initiative of the Wife of the Governor of Cross, Her Excellency, Dr (Mrs) Linda Ayade on Saturday, conducted a Medical outreach at Ikot Ene-Obong community, 8 Miles, Calabar Municipal Council, Cross River State were a 100-year one woman was pleased by the services hitherto. They also offered free health check up on Malaria, HIV/AIDS, BP, BMI as well as distributes free drugs and Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs).
MDF had for few months now soar through the Calabar metropolis including Municipal and South, but the Ikot Ene-Obong’s outreach has the most of it with a Hundred years old woman, Mrs Abigail Ene-Obong accessing the services. Being a centurion, Mma Ene-Obong is still strong and agile and she was pleased by the MDF extended-hand over improving the lives of the people. Though, she was shy of taking photos and video interview with Calabar Reporters.
She said that, if this continues in a routine way, then Cross Riverians will live more than 100 years. In her thinking, she claims she had Malaria, but unfortunately her results came out negative. She insisted for drugs, but only preventive drugs were given to her.
The outreach which saw the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency, CRSPHCDA, Primary Health Centre – Ikot Ene-Obong, Medical Women Association of Nigeria, MWAN – Cross River State Chapter with Cross River, fhi360, Cross River Medical Student Association (CRIMSA), in participation recorded more than a four hundred lives touched.
Out of the 400 persons that assessed the free health outreach, 275 persons were tested for Malaria and for HIV. Other cases recorded where sore eyes, vomiting (in the case of a 5-year-old gilr), stomach and other bacteria infections. Majority of these numbers were children, pregnant women and nursing mothers. Anti Malaria drugs were given to patients plus large numbers of ITNs and antibiotics.
Dr (Mrs) Linda Ayade who made it known how important the health of the people is on her swearing-in about two years ago and other several occasions including the World HIV/AIDS Day has always thrived to make sure Cross Riverians lives come first in all her endeavours.
Speaking during the exercise was the Director General of Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr (Mrs) Betta Edu as she lauded the outreach as being in-timed.
She added that, Her Excellency, Dr Ayade has done promisingly well to take her NGO, MDF to people of Ikot Ene-Obong as the laughter on the faces of people tells how magnificent she is.
“The target today is 500, and let’s hope the community comes out at large as awareness has been made through the town crier. And if the people, I’ll seize this opportunity to access the free medical outreach for this may take a while for such to happen.
“Today, Her Excellency is keeping to the promises she made during the World’s Malaria and HIV/AIDS Days, and the Primary Health Centre, Ikot Ene-Obong is giving her the full support. Kudos to MDF, kudos to Dr Linda Ayade, kudos to everyone participating for today,” She concluded.
Later speaking was Christiana Kanep, a mother of a 3 months old baby (Munachi Kanep). She called the initiative a welcome development and thanked the Wife of the Governor of Cross River State and her NGO, MDF for kind heartedly caring for the less privileges.
“We rarely see such in Ikot Ene-Obong, and when I heard about it, I had to rush down with my son and I discovered it was real and free. I was attended to with no hassle by the friendly and lovely doctors including the Testers and Mobilisers. I feel they should be coming on a regular basis.
“Thank you the governor of Cross River State and his wife for remembering us that find it difficult to access good health, may God bless and strengthen you,” She told Calabar Reporters.
Commenting on the exercise, the hardworking MWAN President, Dr Nchewi Ani says it’s always been a pleasure for her and her team working with MDF. She added that the association purpose in the state is to promoting good health amongst the people and that they’ll always be supportive to Dr Linda Ayade and her Husband, Prof Ben Ayade to ensure Cross River State is free from Malaria, HIV/AIDS and other diseases.
With the smiles on their faces, CRIMSA comrades, Ekpe Augustine and his colleague said it’s been a pleasure working with MDF. They acknowledge that today’s exercise has bought them a lot of experience as they witnessed about 10 cases of severed hypertension and also some eye diseases.
Ekpe said, patients with severe problems were referred to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH for further assessment and treatment.
The duo concluded that, as Calabar University Students Association, CUMSA members it’s their plight to work with Cross River State Government and other NGOs to ensure a healthy Cross River State.
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