As the free medical and surgical outreach sponsored by the Etinan Local Government Council gears into the second day, a total of 15 successful surgical operations have been carried out with over 470 glasses distributed and eye related problems including surgeries attended to.

An excited indigene of Nkana Iman, Godswill Aniefiok told Kristina Reports that he developed hernia four years ago but could not afford the medical bill for a surgical operation.

“I have been living with this medical situation until now. God bless the chairman for bringing this outreach closer to the people free of charge.”

Another beneficiary who hails from Ikot Anagha, Mary Okon revealed that she developed severe eye pain on the right hand side of her eye, but was operated upon and the pain is gone.

She poured God’s blessings of good health, success on the Chairman and members of the Transition Committee whom she said have remembered the poor and facilitated the outreach.

Similarly, the Deputy Village Head Afaha Urua Essien, Obong Monday Marcus described the turnout of patients as massive and commended the LG Chairman for the wonderful initiative.

“Let me say this is unprecedented in the history of our local government. There were chairmen before him but he has left a mark on the sands of time within a very short stay in office. God bless him.”

“Afaha Urua Essien will support him to transit into an elected Chairman when the time comes.”

Monday Philip from Ndon Eyo II lauds the LG Chairman for bringing health to the people at no cost.

“Some of these people are so poor that they cannot afford medical attention even in government hospitals but this exercise has gone a long way to address those health challenges.”

20-year-old Abasifreke from Afaha Akpan Ekpo is one of the 470 beneficiaries of the eyes test carried out by the team of opticians present for the medical outreach.

His problem started since his days at the nursery school and all through his secondary education he could only read at night with a not too bright light. He was examined and eye glasses recommended for him.

In a chat with Kristina Reports, the Head of the Medical team, Dr. Cyril Essien put the cost of each of the surgical operation for hernia at over a hundred thousand naira which he said has been taken care of by the local government council at no cost on the patients.