Nigeria @ 66: We’re committed to Nigeria’s health sector – Seadogs

… Targets 1,000 beneficiaries in Rivers community

From Tony John, Port Harcourt

The National Association of Seadogs (NAS), has restated its commitment to the wellbeing of Nigerians through sustained support for the nation’s health sector.

The association demonstrated this at a medical outreach organized by Olympus Marino Deck, in collaboration with Barracuda X, Aquamella X and Oxbow Marino Decks, held in Opobo Town, Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State yesterday.

The free medical mission, tagged “Health For All, Bridging The Gap in Opobo,” is the sixth edition of the association’s signature project, described as its October 1 Medical Outreach.

Capoon of Olympus Marino Deck, Ateli Biambo, said the association was concerned about leaving positive impact on the citizens, particularly those in the communities who might have difficulties accessing healthcare services.

“What do we do for this country? We decided to be carrying a medical lottery. This is the sixth edition. We’ve been to Buguma, we’ve been to Degema, Ahoada West, we’ve been to Etche, we’ve been to Kono too,” he said.

He disclosed that the outreach was deliberately taken to Opobo to identify with the kingdom after the recent coronation of its monarch.

“We chose Opobo for one singular reason. They just finished the coronation of their king, King Charles MacPepple Jaja, the treaty king in Nigeria. And we felt after the coronation, the subjects must have run around for boat regattas and masquerades. So we decided to bring healthcare closer to them,” Biambo said.

He said even officials from the palace had visited the venue to approve the exercise, with some receiving treatment.

“They are complaining of waist pain, leg pain, eye pain. We’ve given them drugs,” he said, adding that the outreach covers four major areas: optometry, dentistry, pharmacy and general medicine.

Biambo disclosed that the association was targeting 1,000 residents, with over 150 patients attended to in less than one hour and about 300 already seated at the venue.

He explained that the October medical outreach has become a recurring project of the deck for six years, with previous editions held in Buguma, Degema, Ahoada West, Etche, Kono and other communities.

On his part, a representative of the Amanyanabo of Opobo, King Charles Douglas MacPepple Jaja, Chief Chamberlain Todd Peterside, who spoke after a courtesy visit to the palace, described the programme as a huge relief.

“In the community we have a lot of old people. And at this critical moment when you see that the cost of medication is very high, having this type of program is a very great relief to us. So we welcome it so much,” he said.

A medical doctor with the team, Dr. Atama Valentine, an emergency and environmental health physician, said the mission was aimed at complementing government efforts and identifying health gaps to be communicated to relevant authorities.

“Opobo is situated on an island. A lot of persons here find it difficult to access healthcare. There’s a health centre, but there are conditions they cannot handle financially and otherwise. So we decided to bring this closer to the grassroots,” Dr. Valentine said.

He said common health challenges identified were hypertensive heart disease, visual impairment, malaria and parasitic infestations due to the swampy terrain. He revealed that some critically ill patients had to be visited in their homes.

Also speaking, President of Barracuda X Deck, Kingsley Ikeokwu, said the collaboration underscored the association’s philosophy of strength in unity.

“We believe it’s very easy to break one stick of broom, but when they are together you can’t break it. We felt Health For All is a very lofty idea that Barracuda X can key into alongside other decks to bring good health to the interior,” he said, describing the turnout as massive and emotional.

He recounted how a woman shed tears after receiving free medicated glasses.

Eke Chinedu, who supervises NAS Area 5 comprising Rivers and Bayelsa States, said the free medical mission is part of the association’s core interventions, including street children support.

“We do a lot of programmes. Medical mission is one of it. We’ve been to so many other communities. Both drugs and everything is free. We try to bridge that gap of healthcare to the people,” he said.

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