Over 150 persons benefit from Rotary Int’l free medical service

NO fewer than 150 Anambra residents have benefitted from a free medical outreach programme  organised by Rotary International, District 9142.

  Dr Chukwunonso Epundu, Anambra State Chairman of the Family Health Week and Assistant Governor, Zone 9,urged the public to avail themselves of the opportunity to receive free Medicare.

  Epundu, while addressing the beneficiaries at  Umudioka Primary Health Centre , Awka, in Awka South Local Government Area of the state said that the free medical service was being done in commemoration of the 2019 Rotary Family Health Days, which held between Oct. 31 and Nov. 2.

  The zonal assistant governor said that it was a global annual tradition of the club to hold family health days within its area of focus.

  “The family health days is part of the efforts of members of the club to improve on their area of focus,” he said.

  He said that the exercise was going on simultaneously in Onitsha, Ozubulu and Nnewi, adding that the club would continue to provide free health care services to people as its cardinal service to humanity .

  Also speaking, Prof. Frank-Collins Okafor, Assistant Governor, Zone 7, urged the people to take advantage of the offer to attend to their health needs.

  Okafor, also a lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, said the club was committed to making meaningful impact on the people and community.

  The  Coordinator of the programme, Mrs Ngozi Nworji-Ekeh, said that Rotary Club was committed to touching the lives of the people in the areas of health, sanitation, water, education and conflict resolution.

  A Nurse at  Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka , Helen Onwudiwe,  counseled women on need to enjoy the free medicare to screen for cervical cancer, saying that cervical cancer occurs in the cells of the cervix which is lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina and described it as a killer disease among women which can be prevented.

 She urged women between ages of 25 to 65 to regularly screen for the disease as if detected on time, it would be handled. “The screening test cost lots of money to do by professionals but today, Rotary is doing it free of charge. It’s my own contribution for service to humanity as a Rotarian and I call on women to come out before the closure of the event on Nov. 2,” she said

   Speaking on behalf of the organisers,   Mr Kenneth  Aniemena, a community Leader commended the  club for the initiative, describing it as a welcome development.

  The president of the Rotary Club of Awka Metropolis, Emenike Innocent, advised patients with hypertension and sugar to buy the machine used for testing to regularly test their status.

  Mr Maxwell Udemba, one of the beneficiaries, commended Rotary members for their service to humanity and urged them to continue in their service to humanity.

    Newsmen reports that the exercise featured health talks, counseling, distribution of mosquito nets, insecticides and sanitary pads.

  Another beneficiary, expressed his gratitude to the Rotarians, praying that God will reward them in many folds as they have love to help the less privileged in many ways.

  Other services were tests for malaria, HIV, cervical and breast cancer, blood pressure and blood sugar.