Charles Ekanem|4 January 2016|7:14am
☆ 900 People in Adadama Ward, Abi LGA, received free medical treatment and consultation from Dr Betta Edu, S.A Community Health to the CRS Governor.
About 900 people in Adadama Village of Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State in the spirit of the festive period have benefited from a health outreach organized by their daughter Dr. Betta Edu, on 31 December 2015, in collaboration with the Speaker, Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. John Gaul Lebo.
The Special Adviser(SA), who engaged in this exercise in her personal capacity as Dr. Betta Edu, took the comprehensive health outreach to elderly women (65 years and above), elderly men, nursing mothers and the entire youth of the community, giving the beneficiaries free medical consultations, laboratory investigations for diabetes, blood pressure check, sugar, cholesterol and malaria investigation, HIV & AIDS counselling and testing and pharmaceutical services as well as treatment for chronic and minor ailments at no cost.
The S.A also used the outreach to inform the people of Adadama of the State Governor, Prof. Sen. Ben Ayade's goodwill message to the community urging them to remain steadfast, hopeful and prayerful to God as he is working hard to bring a long lasting peace and a unique primary health delivery services to Adadama Villages.
The health outreach promoted universal health coverage, strengthening of existing health systems, establish learning/capacity building and enhancement of the social determinants of health in Adadama.
She intimated the people that the gallant and innovative state Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade is willing and ready to increase staff strength of community health workers and facilities not only in Adadama ward but the entire state.
The political aide warned the people of endangering their health in the hands of TBAs (Traditional Birth Attendants), spiritual ritualists, fake pharmacists and chemists, quack doctors etc. She indulged them to always access the health facilities in the primary health centers and health posts.
Dr. Betta Edu assured the excited attendees of coming at least every three months interval to meet with the women of the communities to assist their needs and also help in providing basic educational scholarship to the teeming youths. She eulogised the people to continue their good support and love to the state Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade and their son Rt. Hon John Gaul Lebo, Speaker CRS House of Assembly.
Other items like free drugs, many bags of rice and financial assistance were given to elderly women, men, nursing mothers and youths of the community.
Before commencement of the programme, health talks on malaria, high blood pressure and diarrhea were rendered by a senior health worker in the community just as prayers for the community were rendered by one of the visiting medical practitioner, Dr. Eja Samuel.
Many gave praises and appreciation to the S.A and the number one citizen of the state, Prof Ben Ayade. A ranking chief from neighboring village, Elemi Egban testified to the kind of care they received in the hands of medical doctors and nurses. He prayed for God's guidance for the Special Assistant, Speaker and the State Governor. He specially acknowledged and thanked the Governor for engaging their daughter Dr. Betta Edu in the exalted office.
A once active woman leader in the community who was diagnosed with severe malaria and typhoid received treatment and drugs for the ailment. In her words, "Today, I can feel better at least for having hope that my health will be restored after four months. I am grateful and will always remember the S.A for this'.
The students' group was not left out, as their executive led by Adadama Students Union Worldwide Director of information, Comrade Sunday Elemi thanked the S.A on bold steps taken by her to remember her immediate constituency by providing free pharmaceutical services and free medical consultation to the youth and students of the community to solve the health challenges caused by drug abuse and communal crisis.
The event was rounded up by words of appreciation for large turn out of people to the programme irrespective of the briefness of its notice by Chief of Staff to the Honorable Speaker of CRS House of Assembly and a farewell message by the S.A thanking the health workers in the primary post for their warmth reception and cooperation exhibited throughout the process.
Charles Ekanem
P.A to CRS Governor's Special Adviser on Community Health
