Ministry offers free medical services to 5,000 Edo residents
The Ministry of Regional Development has said that no fewer than 5,000 persons will benefit from its healthcare services in Edo.
The Minister, Mr Abubakar Momoh, said this on Friday during flag-off of the weeklong healthcare services in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.
Momoh, represented by Mr Festus Wasa, Director of Community Development and Education in the ministry, said that the healthcare services would be replicated in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
According to him, the free medical outreach affirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring the well-being of the citizens.
“The one-week free medical treatment by the ministry is being undertaken by Derum Global Services with a target of treating 5,000 persons with various ailments in the state.
“This medical exercise is part of the ministry’s mandate of ensuring development of various regions, as only the healthy can contribute to national development,” Momoh said.
The minister added that the free services were aimed at promoting the well-being of indigent people at the grassroots, by granting them easy access to quality healthcare services.
He urged Edo residents to take advantage of the medical services to take care of their health.
Dr Omeco Ekorhi, Project Coordinator Derums Global Services Ltd., said that the medical services included general surgery, eye surgery and distribution of free eye glasses.
He also listed fibroid surgery, blood pressure and diabetes screening, malaria test, as well as the distribution of free drugs, as part of the services.
“The essence of the programme is to bring free medical services to the doorstep of the people, who ordinarily cannot afford such.
“We want to thank the minister for giving us the opportunity to add value to the healthcare of the people of Edo,” Ekorhi said.
He, however, advised residents of the state to intensify efforts at personal hygiene and environmental cleanliness as preventive measures against disease outbreak.
Some of the beneficiaries who pleaded anonymity, commended the minister for the gesture.
“This is a great initiative from the ministry, and we appreciate the minister for this initiative,” one of them said.
