Seadogs Medical Mission Brings Free Healthcare to Residents in Opobo

About 1,000 residents of Opobo Kingdom in Rivers State have benefited from a free medical outreach organised by the National Association of Seadogs (NAS), through the Olympus Marino Deck, in collaboration with Barrakuda X, Aquamella X and Oxbow Marino Decks.

The outreach, held under the theme “Health for All: Bridging the Care Gap in Opobo Kingdom,” provided residents with free consultations, medications, dental care, optometry services, health education and other medical interventions.

The programme also involved the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme, Purple Eyes Dental Clinics and St. Patrick’s Hospital, among other partners.

Speaking on the initiative, the Capoon of Olympus Marino Deck, Ateli Biambo said the project was the deck’s signature community intervention and formed part of its annual October 1 medical outreach.

He explained that the decision to take the programme to Opobo was informed by the community’s healthcare needs, particularly following the recent coronation of King Charles Douglas MacPepple Jaja, King of Opobo Kingdom.

He said they targeted about 1,000 beneficiaries, adding that hundreds of residents had already received treatment within the first hours of the exercise.

A medical doctor, Dr. Emmanuel Orlu, said the initiative was designed to identify healthcare gaps and bring essential services closer to residents who may face difficulties accessing healthcare.

He said the services included medical consultations, drug dispensing, dental care, optometry, health insurance enrolment, health promotion and preventive-health education.

Dr. Atama Valentine, an emergency physician and environmental health specialist, said the outreach was particularly important because of Opobo’s geographical location and the challenges some residents face in accessing specialised healthcare.

He disclosed that medical teams encountered several cases of hypertension and heart-related conditions, visual problems, malaria and parasitic infections.

He added that the team had also visited the home of a critically ill patient who was unable to access the outreach centre because of mobility challenges.

The President of Barrakuda X Deck, Kingsley Ikeokwu, described the collaboration among the NAS decks as an example of the impact that could be achieved through collective action.

He said the massive turnout demonstrated the demand for healthcare services in the community, noting that some beneficiaries were visibly emotional after receiving eyeglasses and other interventions.

Representivebif the King, Chief Chamberlain Peterside commended the organisers, saying the outreach had brought significant relief to residents, particularly elderly people affected by the rising cost of medicines.

He appealed to the organisers to expand the scope of services during future visits.

The NAS representatives said the organisation would continue to use its medical missions to support underserved communities while documenting identified healthcare gaps for possible attention by relevant government and health authorities.

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