Clement Nnachi 
Wednesday, 11th September 2024 would remain evergreen in the lives of indigent and the downtrodden in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Afikpo, predominantly an agrarian community, is one of the ancient communities in the South-East region of the country.
It is one of the biggest cities in Ebonyi State with large mineral deposits, namely Quartz, Limestone, Granite that are of economic value to the state.
The day witnessed large turn out of residents of the 12 wards of the council, to Mater Misericordia Hospital, venue of the free medical outreach offered by medical doctors of the community’s extraction under the aegies of “Conference of Afikpo Medical and Dental Doctors (CAMD).
As early as 6am of the fateful day, thousands of residents with various ailments, thronged the venue and were well received by the medical practitioners.
The services offered included free medical consultation, free eye surgeries, free gynaecological /general surgeries, health talk and distribution of 600 eye glasses.
The doctors also distributed 600 eye glasses to patients with eye impairments during thel outreach.
Addressing the gathering, the Chairman of Conference of Afikpo Medical and Dental Doctors (CAMD), Dr Uduma Victor Uduma, said the outreach was organized due to inability of the poor to access healthcare.
“The event is organized to offer free medical and surgical outreach to the less privileged. This is part of our Corporate Social Responsibility for our people as medical practitioners”
“So, we are here today to offer free medical care to our people. All we are doing here are free of charge for all patients.
“Yes, we embarked on this programme because we understand that they are so many of our people, who do not have the financial ability to have good medical care due to high cost of treatment.
“Here, we are ready to render free eye surgery, distribute 600 eye glasses to those that have eye problems. The programme is the second edition where people accessed free health care from health professionals”
Earlier while declaring the outreach open, the Chairman of Afikpo Local Government Area, Timothy Nwachi A.U, lauded the doctors for the initiative, describing it as worthy of emulation.
“This is a welcome development for the people of the council. I urge good spirited individuals to support the initiative.”
“The outreach has brought health services to the indigent and downtrodden at the grassroot”
He pledged to support the outreach to ensure its sustainance and boost the healthcare needs of the people.
“We need to make our people have good health, promote health policy of qualitative healthcare of Ebonyi State government.”
In his contribution, the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Dr Egwu Donald, expressed satisfaction with the turnout of people and enjoined well meaning individuals of the community to support the outreach.
“We understand that some of our community members suffer ailments. Some have financial constraints to seek medicare. We are targeting 100 eye surgeries.
“Our target is to reach out to indigent persons. We have a budget of over N20 million. It’s costing both human, material and financial resources.”
“This initiative of the doctors is worthy of emulation from other well meaning individuals and groups.”
In an interview, one of the beneficiaries, Mr Okoti Francis Egwu, described the initiative as the first of its kind in the area.
“With this outreach, I have been able to overcome the challenges of finance preventing me from accessing healthcare services.”
Contributing, another beneficiary, Mrs Grace Itor, described the free health services as a relief to the indigent members of the society.
It is worthy to note that the Conference of Afikpo Medical and Dental Doctors (CAMD), comprised medical professionals of Afikpo extraction committed in offering humanitarian services to indigent persons of the area.
