Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti has flagged off a five-day free medical outreach to provide different free surgeries and other medical services for the people.
Flagging off the free medical outreach organized by the Living Hope Foundation, USA in collaboration with the Abia State Government on Sunday, at the Living Hope Medical Centre, Eluama in Isuikwuato LGA of the state, Governor Alex Otti said he wants to ensure that health care delivery is made accessible to the people using both the public hospitals and standard private hospitals.
Governor Otti, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche said that the state is collaborating to enhance the impact of the free medical services.
He added that, apart from the interventions of his government in infrastructural renewal, it also partners with reputable health organizations to provide quality health care services to the people.
“What we are doing here is that we are partnering with this global health organization, known as the Living Hope Foundation that has been carrying out free medical outreaches for over 36 years.
“So what the state government is doing is to collaborate to ensure that we work together to increase the impact delivered on the goals and aspirations of our government.
“So apart from the interventions that the state is carrying out in terms of infrastructural renewal and rejuvenation, also looking at manpower, hiring of manpower to ensure that gaps in the skilled labor in the health care sector are met.
Governor Otti appreciated the fact that all kinds of surgical operations, including hernias, lumps, and tumors, are going to be carried out free of charge by the medical team from the U.S, numbering about 40.
He noted that, as part of the partnership, the US-based team is working with the local team of medical practitioners in Abia, coordinated by the Head of the Medical Outreach Team, to achieve the goal of the free medical outreach. He disclosed that the free medical services are not just holding at the Living Hope Medical Centre at Eluama, but also at the Isuikwuato General Hospital.
Governor Otti lauded the founder of the Living Hope Foundation, Dr. Onyebuchi Acho and his wife for their commitment in providing free medical services to his people for about 36 years now.
“For 36 years, you’ve stood in the gap to ensure that you brought our people out from the brink, by doing what is phenomenal, and something very difficult to even describe.
“Every year, you come with a team of expatriate doctors, nurses, and allied health workers to perform this free medical outreach that has touched so many millions of people around this place.
“You have so changed the narrative for the people of Isuikwuato that we’re so proud of you. We’re proud of you in Abia State. Your example is what our government has been preaching. People like you are the people that this government celebrates,” Gov. Otti stated.
Earlier, the founder and president of the Living Hope Foundation, Dr. Onyebuchi Acho said that they have been using the Foundation which he described as a ministry, to help the people that are struggling and dying needless death for the past 36 years.
The United States of America-based medical practitioner said that he is excited about how Governor Otti loves his people and is interested in their well-being, and said that he is glad to partner with the Governor.
“We’ve been using this ministry to come to Abia State and all over Nigeria for the past 36 years to help our people that are struggling and dying needless death.
“I’m excited about this. I’ve known the governor for a long time, and you know there have been so many governors that have governed this state.
“But this, to me, is the first time I’m like, wow, Dr. Otti is a man who loves people like I do, and who cares for people like I do. And who is interested in helping Abians?
“So I’m excited, he’s a wonderful guy, and I’m glad to partner with him, and hopefully continue to have this partnership for a long time,” Dr. Acho assured.
Some dignitaries, including the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Barr. Ikechukwu Uwanna, former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika, the Executive Secretary of HMB, and the Head of Medical Outreach in the Ministry of Health among others were present at the ceremony while the free medical outreach has already seen many patients attended to and operated upon on the first day of the exercise.
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