....Says initiative complements Mbah's rural intervention programs
A group under the aegis of Peter Ndubuisi Mba Care Initiative (PNM Care Initiative) on Saturday carried out a free geriatric health outreach in Eha-Alumona, Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The team, made up of volunteers, medical and health professionals
gave well-being and health education, diagnosed and provided medication for hundreds of participants.
Addressing newsmen during the flag off of the program, Hon. Roy Ekwueme, Director General, PNM Care Initiative said the program geriatric health outreach program for rural dwellers in Enugu state aimed at providing essential, accessible, and free healthcare services.
According to him, "PNM Care Initiative is a health intervention program targeted at the ageing population in our rural communities by ambassadors of Gov Peter Ndubuisi Mba. The outreach offered Digital Rectal Examination & PSA testing (for men), Random/Fasting blood glucose testing, Blood pressure measurement and cardiovascular risk assessment, Urinalysis, Rapid Hepatitis B surface antigen screening and vaccination of negatives, Comprehensive dental examination and basic treatment (scaling, fillings, extractions), Rapid diagnostic testing and treatment for malaria, Visual acuity testing, refraction, cataract identification, and free reading/medicated glasses distribution. Free essential medications (antihypertensives, antidiabetics, analgesics, antibiotics, antimalarials, etc.) were dispensed on-site, with referral of complicated cases to partner secondary/tertiary facilities."
Explaining further, Ekwueme, who is also the Supervisory Councillor for Health in Nsukka LGA noted that the team is merely complementing the rural intervention health program of the state Governor,
"Our team is merely complementing the rural intervention health programs
of His Excellency, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mba in building 260 type 2 health centres in the 260 wards of Enugu state by visiting communities to provide doorstep health outreach for the ageing population that might not have the necessary mobility and sometimes finances to visit distant health facilities.
"One of the major aims of the outreach is health talk where our rural dwellers are educated on causes of various health challenges prevalent in their communities and how to live a healthier life by understanding genetics, lifestyle, consumption effects on their health, as well as the danger of superstitious beliefs that hinder them from seeking appropriate medical care.
"Our target is also to take the PNM Care Initiative to all the rural communities across the State, by doing so we plan to visit at least two communities every week with Eha-Alumona as our starting point.
"So, PNM Care Initiative is caring, building trust, transforming communities and taking the message of the transformative leadership of our amiable Governor to the remotest of our communities," Ekwueme said.
Our correspondence reports that the outreach which was both an educative and interactive session offered both the health professionals and participants the opportunity of learning a great deal about the health challenges in rural communities.
In a separate interview with some of the participants, they commended and appreciated Hon Ekwueme for the free healthcare outreach, as well as the State Governor in whose name the program was carried out.
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