The free medical outreach organised by the House of Representatives member from Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency of Cross River State, Dr Alex Egbona, ended on Saturday with the distribution of health facilities to all health centres in the constituency.
Tried as the medical doctors and consultants could, they were unable to deal with all the cases that needed surgical attention, prompting Egbona to direct that some of the cases that cannot be handled by doctors in the health centres be taken to the teaching hospital.
Some of the items the lawmaker, who is the chairman of the House of Reps committee on specialty healthcare, supply include beds, mattresses, pillows, treated mosquito nets, autoclave machine, bed side locker and bed sheets.
Others are wheel chairs, straight artery forceps, jake dissecting forceps toothed, straight mayo scissors, curve mayo scissors, scrape, stitches scissors, rubber clutches and multi-functional bandage.
Others include automatic digital BP monitor, B side H3 infrared thermo gun, stainless trolley, hand gloves, hospital tables and chairs, hospital drip stand, T-C cotton absorbent guaze, PBT elastic bandage, litman cardiology stethoscope, arm sling support, fingertip oxygen monitor, ventolin inhaler, seretide stabilizer, refrigerator, stretcher bed, anti bacterial wipes, among others.
Coordinators for Abi and Yakurr local government primary health centres and heads of all the health centres in the federal constituency were on hand to sign and take delivery of the various items.
Dr Ibiang Okama Eko, the Yakurr primary health coordinator and her Abi counterpart, Mrs Christy Iwara were full of gratitude to the lawmaker for keeping his promise earlier than expected.
They said it was unprecedented for a lawmaker to train build the capacity of the health workers, get them involved in the free medical outreach and also provide hospital facilities to enhance healthcare delivery for his people.
While handing over the items to the two coordinators, Egbona said: “I feel fulfilled and excited today that this week, we have made a lasting impression in the health sector in this constituency. We started with the training of health personnel, then we went into a comprehensive medical outreach and here we are, also distributing facilities for the various centres.
“My desire for everyone in this constituency is for them to enjoy good health. The medical outreach was to commence on Wednesday, but surprisingly, by Monday, the designated health centre for surgeries was already taken over by people from all parts of the constituency, who needed surgeries.
“On Monday, about four people from Yakurr had benefitted from surgical operation. The following day, the number increased and people from Yakurr and Abi were in the theatre to be operated upon.
“Because of the increasing number of cases that required surgical operations, we had to extend the number of days to accommodate more people.
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“We may not have been able to handle all the cases during this period, but I have also directed that other critical cases be taken to the Alex Ekwueme Teaching Hospital. Our people must live and enjoy good health.”
Before the distribution of the medical equipment, Egbona visited the medical outreach centre at Ugep and Itigidi, headquarters of Yakurr and Abi local governments respectively where he appreciated the medical consultants, doctors, nurses and other health workers that have worked in the constituency since Monday.
He said what he was doing was in line with and in support of the Governor Bassey Otu, adding that the slogan of season of sweetness propagated by the Governor was not a fluke.
He said his people in Abi/Yakurr were already enjoying the sweetness in the area of health and urged the people to continually support the government of Otu.
Clan head of Ikamine, Itigidi, Eval Ikpete Bassey Igah, said: “I came here because of the Alex Egbona Comprehensive medical outreach. I have stomach ulcer and waist pain so I decided to grab this opportunity provided by our honourable member.”