The Bayelsa State Government has provided free medical outreach to 72 communities in the state in partnership with UNICEF.
This was part of the activities marking the third anniversary of Gov. Douye Diri’s administration.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), during the 2022 floods, UNICEF presented medical relief materials to the Bayelsa government with funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and the Central Emergency Relief Fund (Cerf).
On Friday in Yenagoa, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Pabara Igwele, was represented by his Personal Assistant, Dr Appah Williams, who praised UNICEF for its commitment to medical and related collaboration with the state.
On her part, the team leader for UNICEF Harmonised Approach to Cash Transfer (HACT), Mrs Pauline Uko, reiterated the need for a continued partnership in ameliorating the health challenges of Bayelsa people.
She noted that the UN children fund would build on its existing collaborations with the state.
Dr Perebi Adama, the acting team lead for the local government batch of medical professionals on the outreach, said after the medical outreach in Otuabo, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa, that no fewer than 250 patients were diagnosed and treated of various ailments.
“Men, women, the aged, children, expectant mothers and others were diagnosed and treated of various ailments and diseases like malaria, typhoid, acute diarrhea, cholera, tuberculosis and we also carried out deworming of patients.
“We administered drugs and also carried out vaccination; we did COVID-19 test, immunisation and also carried out rapid diagnosis test.
“Some patients diagnosed with hypertensive and diabetic cases were addressed through pharmacological and non pharmacological measures.
” We also gave out palliatives to cushion the impacts of the 2022 ravaging floods on them,” he said.
Commenting on the free medical programme, Chairman, Community Development Committee (CDC) of Otuabo community, Mr Arimori Igoniwari, commended UNICEF and the state government for the initiative.
Igoniwari noted that the community had for long been grappling with the difficulties in accessing qualitative and affordable medicare occasioned by lack of equipment in the old existing health centre in the area.
He said they could now better appreciate the partnership of the UNICEF and others.
Also, Mr Neruarua Famous and Mrs Augustine Apaga, beneficiaries of the outreach, thanked Gov. Diri and UNICEF for the initiative.
They added that the outreach was an opportunity they had been longing for.
They noted that with this initiative, their health challenges had been treated.
Apart from the free medical care provided, patients were also given mosquito treated nets, soaps, detergent, diapers, toothpaste and brushes as well as slippers. (NAN)
