by Abia State government is to flag off this year’s polio eradication campaign Tuesday at Isialangwa South LGA.
The State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu stated this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting presided over by Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti.
To that end, government has called on concerned Abians to take advantage of the opportunity to immunize their children against polio.
The Information Commissioner said that the Association of Nigerian physicians in America (ANPA), would be engaging in free medical outreach in the State between the 4th and 14th of April this year.
According to him, the medical outreach which would comprise a total of 65 medical Doctors, would feature over 5000 treatments and over 200 surgery cases across the State and called on Abians to register early enough in preparation for the surgery.
He said the objectives of the exercise is to ensure that Abians are provided free and easy access to quality health care.
Prince Kanu further disclosed that the Glaucoma week will commence in the State from the 10th to 16th of this month, describing glaucoma as the leading cause of blindness across the globe.
“The State government is working with a group of Nigerian physicians who are based in America or are referred to Association of Nigerian Physicians in America ANPA. They will be engaging in a medical outreach in Abia State between the 4th and 14th of April and active preparations have kicked off to ensure that the medical outreach turns out very successful. In that regard, about 65 centres have been identified where Abians are supposed to go and register. Abians are been encouraged to register, particularly, those who have very serious surgeries or health issues.”
“Surgeries will focus on such areas like column cancer, prostrate enlargements. The whole objectives is to ensure that the average Abian is provided with free and easy access to health facilities. It will be a very free exercise. It’s just like the free medical services that we had last year, it will be a free medical outreach for Abians.”
Contributing, the state Commissioner for health, Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo said the members of the ANPA would arrive the State in less than a month to conduct rare surgeries including Colon Cancer and prostrate surgeries among others.
She advised adults from 40years and above to visit designated centres across the 3 Senatorial Zones of the State for test before the arrival of the team.
“We are excited and we can’t wait for them to arrive and this is because they are going to be hosting some of the top surgeons that you have in the United States and they are going to be able to conduct some very rare surgeries that we are not able to do right here in Nigeria. Some of them (the surgeries) would have to cost so much for us to do it.”
“From this weekend, most likely the centres would be made available to start running tests for the people that will be able to access the chronoscope care when they arrive. So the testing has to be done first then you will be qualified for the second care. The centres would most likely be FMC and Specialist Centre”
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special duties, Dr Betty Emeka-Obasi said that the focus of the Governor Otti’s administration is to revolutionize the health sector, describing the theme for the Glaucoma week “Uniting for a Glaucoma free World” as commendable.
She described Glaucoma as genetic and encouraged everyone to troop out en masse for the free test.
“His Excellency is focused to revamp and revolutionize the healthcare sector and ensure equitable, accessible and all inclusive quality healthcare delivery. The leading cause of blindness in black Africa is glaucoma and once it causes blindness, it’s irreversible.”
Speaking on the 2024 International women’s day celebration, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Bekky Ogechi-Oguama said the event which is celebrated annually on the 8th of March will be marked in the State on the 7th of this month at the International Conference center Umuahia.
She said the team of this year’s celebration is “Inspire Inclusion” maintaining that activities lined up for the event includes road walk, lectures among others.
“We encourage everyone to come out, lets celebrate the achievements of women. Let’s put our heads together to encourage them to do more for themselves and for Abians. The theme for the year is Inspire Inclusion. We have to give voice to the voiceless, that voiceless woman, that woman that is under represented, that woman that needs to find her feet. These are people we need to bring up and include them in what is happening in Abia”.
