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 Roll Back malaria, eye surgery, distribution of eyeglasses, testing and treatment for cancer, testing and distribution 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.
His Royal Highness, King Gabriel Ekezi stated that they are facing a lot of medical challenges, especially eye problems because of the oil and gas pollutants in the region.
Commending the efforts of the FG he 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.
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.
The Director General, State Action Committee on HIV/AIDS (SACA) in Bayelsa State, Ogregade Ileimokumo also lauded the FG for the initiative adding that the medical outreach had afforded many people from the informal sector in the area, access to free medical services.
He enjoined people to always go for early detection and treatment of HIV/AIDS and other contagious ailments to avoid sudden death.
Over 5,000 people in the Niger Delta region have so far benefited from the ongoing medical outreach by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in the oil rich region.
