Ndi Imo | Free surgical outreach services of Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor begins in Obowo
Free surgical outreach services of Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor begins in Obowo
Maternal referral centre Alike Obowo was agog today as the federal house of reps member representing Obowo, Ihitte Uboma and Ehime Mbano federal constituency, Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor , flagged-off the 5th edition of his free surgical operations for the people of the federal constituency.
So far, this year's edition recorded a total of 480 people for major and minor surgical operations across the federal constituency, while tumor, fibroid and appendicitis are toping in numbers.
In his opening remarks during the event, the chairman of Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor free medical outreach services, Doctor Mazi Ejikem, an experienced gynaecologist of several decades standing, asserted that the best thing that has ever happened to the of the federal constituency is Honourable Chike Okafor, whose passion for humanity can never be quantified.
He disclosed that some of those identified for this year's surgical operations may not have lived beyond 2022 because of the severe nature of their cases which have lasted for over 24 years because of unavailability of fund to pay for medical bills. He expressed happiness that Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor has succeeded in lifting the burdens of several families, and recapped that by the free surgical operations Hon. Chike Okafor has given the beneficiaries a new life, rest of mind and hope, and urged them to always remember him in their prayers.
While speaking to his people, Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor, in a heart felt gratitude, thanked Dr. Mazi Ejikem and his team for the wonderful job they've been doing since the inception of the free medical and surgical outreach services. He equally thanked the management of Maternal Referral Centre, Alike, Obowo, led by Dr. Ernest Onuigbo and the CMD of Imo State University Teaching Hospital, (IMSUTH) for their total support, volunteering and making the facility available since the inception of the program six years ago.
He opined that he instituted the program to alleviate the sufferings so many people or families are going through in terms of health issues occasioned by lack of money. He assured the beneficiaries that all surgery cases must surely be done before the end of the program and further noted that even those with complex cases of which the medical team can not handle, will be referred to any specialist hospital that will handle them while he foot their bills, amidst cheers from the crowd.
The guest of honour and Hon. Commissioner for Health Imo State, Dr. Barthy Okorochukwu, a consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist of several years standing, in a no-holds-barred speech, appreciated Deacon Chike Okafor for his magnanimity and humanitarian services to his people. He disclosed that as a Doctor he can tell that anything that has to do with health comes with so much expenses and health itself is an expensive thing to manage, hence, it's either you're paying for yourself or someone will pay for you.
He further explained that when people hear that the outreach is free and that health is wealth, they won't know the level of funds that have been channelled to save those lives.
The commissioner thereafter, went into theatre room where he joined team of surgeons to perform the first surgery of the day, which was the hallmark of the event
