REPORT ON FREE MEDICAL MISSION AND HIV/AIDS SCREENING CONDUCTED AT AWAKA IN OWERRI NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA (LGA) IMO STATE, NIGERIA ON APRIL 2, 2018
Imo State, Nigeria where Medical Mission was conducted.
Awaka, where medical mission was conducted (Google, 2015)
INTRODUCTION
The following is a synopsis of the medical mission event conducted at Awaka in Owerri North Local Government Area (LGA), Imo State, Nigeria on April 2, 2018 by the Willy-Esther Foundation, Inc., a non-profit, non-government organization (NGO). It was organized with the collaboration of Awaka Go Forward International Center for Youth Development, another NGO located in Awaka and Handover Heals Foundation Inc., from New Jersey, USA. The previous ones were conducted in March 2008, Dec. 2010, March 2014, and May 21, 2016.
The purpose of the medical mission was to show compassion for the needy in this developing country, Nigeria; to give hope to the hopeless; to contribute our quota in the effort to eradicate HIV/AIDS in Nigeria with main focus on the rural areas. This is why our slogan is PROJECT: DELTA (doing everything LOCALLY to stop AIDS). It was also to improve healthcare disparity in the area. It was a national day of service for HIV/AIDS; healing the land through HIV/AIDS awareness and engaging in primary and secondary healthcare services.
The one-day program, held on Easter Monday, April 2, 2018, started with an opening ceremony which, among other things and persons, featured the following: Opening prayer by Rev. Fr. Cornelius Ajaegbu, Parish Priest, Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, Awaka, Owerri North Local Government Area (LGA), Imo State. Welcome remarks were made by Chief Prof. Alex Acholonu which included a short review of Willy-Esther Foundation (WEF) and how it started, its vision and mission and the free Medical Missions conducted in the past, and plan for the future. He reviewed the services rendered by the Willy-Esther Foundation. They include training students at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels; making donations to institutions, giving new and used clothes to the needy, to the Red Cross and Ancillia Motherless Babies Home in Mount Camel Catholic Church, Emekuku. He talked about the fact that the Foundation has set up a diagnostic laboratory which has started functioning in 2017. He thanked the people that came
to participate in the Medical Mission especially the Royal Fathers of the Day, His Royal Highness (HRH) Eze Emmanuel S. Okoro of Emii, HRH Eze Godwin Merenini of Nekede and HRH Eze Samuel Ihekwoaba of Ihitta Ogada (the most senior paramos community of Alaenyi clan) who blessed the kola nut. Remarks were made by the Chair of the occasion, Prof. Chidi Akujor, a Professor of Astro-physics, Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) and former Vice Chancellor of Imo State University (IMSU). He expressed gratitude to Prof. Acholonu and encouraged him to continue in his resolve to impact the lives of his people. This was followed by remarks from Evangelist Peter Chima, CEO and Project Coordinator, Awaka Go Forward International Center for Youth Development who handled most of the pre-medical mission on-site arrangements.
He, among others things, commended Prof. Acholonu for his philanthropy and contributions towards the development of Awaka in general. He said that what he is doing will enable people to live longer and better. In her goodwill message, the President and Founder of Handover Heals Foundation, Mrs. Eucharia Chima-Jorji, expressed happiness for the number of people that turned up to participate in the free medical mission (about 500). She called on the people to always extend hands of fellowship to others especially, when they must have crossed the poverty line. She expressed pleasure and satisfaction for coming to Awaka for the first time and participating. Prof. Chidi Akujor, FAS, declared the Free Medical Mission Services for 2018 open and cut the ribbon.
Among those who graced the opening ceremony with their presence are Rev. Dr. Clement Amadi, former Assistant Secretary, Nigeria Baptist Convention, Ibadan, Oyo State. Dr. Anthony Ihedoro a former chairman of Owerri North local government (LGA) and a renowned medical doctor who assisted in chairing the opening ceremony while the chair was awaited. Mr. Lewis Acholonu and several others. Dr. Benjamin Nwamadu the director general of Imo state agency for the control of HIV\AIDS (SACA) was represented by Mr. Modestus Okafor, the community mobilization officer. The commissioner for education- was represented by- who read her speech during the occasion. Among other things she said that the rescue mission of governor Owelle Rochas Okoracha commends and appreciates Willy-Ester Foundation and each partners for collaborating and complimenting the governor’s efforts in the heath sector. He implored the Foundation not to relent in each humanitarian gesture. A team of medical professionals that participated, included seven medical doctors, three pharmacists, one dentist, two ophthalmologists, and several nurses and medical laboratory scientists (technologists). The activities conducted included consulting, counseling, distribution of health literatures and testing, that included malaria, blood pressure, blood sugar, eye tests by optometrists and ophthalmologists and HIV/AIDS screening. Those who came, were clinically examined by medical doctors and prescribed medicines were given to them in the pharmacy section free of charge by qualified pharmacists.
Rev. Sister Mary Joy Emeribe and Mr. Basil Acholonu acted as coordinators of activities with Evang. Peter Chima serving as an all-round man with Prof. Acholonu. Security was provided by two policemen and several members of the Awaka Vigilante group. They insured security during the free medical mission activities. The medical services which started at about 10:30am, went on until about 6 o’clock in the evening. Prof. Acholonu expressed his appreciation to all the health professionals that participated in the medical mission and declared the medical mission closed after a short remark by Mrs. Eucharia Chima-Jorji and closing prayers by evangelist Peter Chima.
CONCLUSION
About 500 people were treated during the medical mission at Awaka, the largest we ever had in the past. Of those who volunteered to be screened for HIV/AIDS (131; 63 males and 68 females) none were positive. Of the 151 that were screened for Malaria (54 males and 94 females) 82 were positive (53.4%) Of those positive 27 males (33%) 55 females (67%) were positive. Of those tested for cholesterol (42) only 1 had low cholesterol and 3 with high cholesterol. Of those tested for blood sugar (105) 23 (22%) exceeded he threshold. Many people expressed profound gratitude to the Willy-Ester Foundation for coming to Awaka to conduct the free medical mission and free screening for HIV/AIDS that gave many people a new lease on life, along with Hand Over Heels Foundation and Awaka Go Forward. They and our on-ground collaborator, Awaka Go Forward on ground. International Center for Youth Development, passionately requested that the Foundation come again. All the Medical professionals were given certificate of attendance and appreciation.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
On behalf of the Willy-Esther Foundation, I wish to express my gratitude to Men’s Club of St Mary’s Catholic Church, Vicksburg, MS, several individuals from St Mary’s Catholic Church, my health care providers, Dr. Tanya Savage- Anderson, Nurse Practitioner, Marvell Spears, Rev .Ernest Ford and his Rose Hill Baptist Church members, my daughter Atty. Esther Streete who contributed much, my colleagues from Alcorn State University, especially Dr. Marta Piva and Dr. Jon Moreno, and other individuals in and out of the State of Mississippi who, through their donations, made this free medical mission a great success.
Special thanks go to Family Health Center of Port Gibson represented by Mr. Marvell Spears, Rite Drugs of Port Gibson, and High Chief Kennedy Okere, MD, President and Founder, Horizon International Medical Mission, for their assistance in procuring drugs.
SUPPLICATION
Those interested in joining us next time are requested to please let us know and join us. Those who can give donation of drugs, laboratory supplies and financial support are requested to please do so. They should contact me at chiefacholonu@yahoo.com or chiefacholonu@alcorn.edu or call 601-636-5903.
