One of the Niger
One of the Niger Delta region oil and gas impacted communities
in Bayelsa State, Opolo-Epie, had described the Federal
Government’s free medical outreach in Bayelsa and other Niger Delta
States as a welcome development, saying the gesture had shown
government’s concern for their plights.
The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, in collaboration with
Vision Savers Limited took its on-going free medical initiative on
Rollback maleria, eye surgery, distribution of eye glasses, testing
and treatment for cancer, testing and drstribution of drugs for
people living with HIV/AIDS virus, and other ailments to the people
of Bayelsa State at Opolo Epie community in Yenagoa Local
Government Area of Bayelsa State, over the weekend.
“We are facing a lot of medical challenges, especially eye
problems because of the oil and gas pollutions”, the people
lamented.
Commending the efforts of the Federal Government, the
traditional ruler of Opolo-Epie Kingdom, His Royal Highness, King
Gabriel Ekezi, said many of his people have suffered several health
challenges over the years because of their inability to access
medical services in hospitals.
King Ekezi charged his people to cooperate with the medical team
to enjoy the free medical services, saying it was the first of its
kinds in the area.
Corroborating his counterpart from Opolo, His Royal Majesty,
King Akile Nwaku, the Pere of Biseni Kingdom, Yenagoa Local
Government Area of Bayelsa State, urged the Federal Government to
extend the gesture to the various kingdoms in the State so as to
touch thousands of less privileged people who were suffering from
various degrees of ailments..
In his remarks at the event, the Director General, State Action
Committee on HIV/AIDS (SACA) in Bayelsa State, Ogregade Ileimokumo,
lauded the Federal Government for the initiative. He added that the
medical outreach had afforded many people from the informal sector
in the area, access to free medical services.
The SACA Director General enjoined people to always go for early
detection and treatment of HIV/AIDS and other contagious ailments
to avoid sudden death.
Earlier, while declaring the event open, the Permanent
Secretary, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Aminu Aliyu Bisalla,
represented by the Bayelsa State Coordinator of the Ministry,
Augustine Odia said the Ministry embarked on the medical outreach
in order to ensure a healthy living for the people of the Niger
Delta region.
Over 5,000 people in the Niger Delta region have so far
benefited from the on-going medical outreach by the Ministry of
Niger Delta Affairs in the oil rich region.
Stephen Kilebi
Deputy Director (Press)