AS part of activities marking its second quarterly meeting, the National Association of Seadogs (NAS), launched its medical mission in Owo community, Nkanu East local government area of the Enugu State, offering free medical services.
The vice president of the Enugu chapter of NAS, Dr. Okechukwu Ogbodo, told journalists that the association chose Owo from among other communities “because of the peculiarity of the area.
“Two years ago, there was a cholera outbreak in the place. During our community diagnosis, we also found out some medical conditions which we felt we can manage with the kind of professionals in our midst.
“This is the first time we are carrying out this medical outreach in Nkanu East. We have been to rural areas in Enugu like Iva Valley, Nsukka, and Awgu.
“In Owo we are targeting about 1,500 people but we will likely exceed that with the crowd of people that have gathered.”
On the kind of services on offer from the medical team, Dr. Godfrey, disclosed that “basically we will offer medical consultations, various levels of examinations, eye and dental checks.
“Basically, we check blood pressure, blood glucose, malaria and run other tests depending on what is prevalent. We will evaluate hypertensive cases, diabetics, children with scabies, malaria, etc.
“Many of those diagnosed will be given free medications. Some will be referred for further evaluation while we will follow up on some others.”
The Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of NAS, Dr. Patrick Briggs explained that “the medical mission is to help the indigent and less privileged in the area who cannot afford medical services.
“We carry out this medical mission in any part of the country during our quarterly meetings.
“We prefer a rural area, where the populace is either indigent or do not have easy access to medical services.
“Our experience is that many who are hypertensive or diabetic in the rural areas do not know that they have the conditions, until the symptoms become severe.
“We will prescribe and offer drugs and enlighten the patients on their health status and plead with them to keep monitoring their health.”
Most beneficiaries like Mrs. Cecilia Nnamchi, who after her eye test was given free eye glasses thanked “God for the help NAS rendered to me. They examined my eyes and gave me glasses.”
Donatus Ede 72, received eye glasses, but “they referred me to Parklane for my dental problem,” he said.
Cyril Aniowo, who also got reading glasses for his eye problem said, “what they did is very good especially for us the elderly ones.”
