Thousands of people in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State have benefited from a free medical outreach organised by the Nigerian Navy.

The outreach, tagged Free Medical Rhapsody, which was organized by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, took place on Saturday, November 25, 2023 at the General Hospital, Opobo Town, Rivers State.

Declaring the outreach open, Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Desmond Igbo said the programme was one of the initiatives of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, aimed at promoting public health and civil-military relationship.

“The free medical outreach to Opobo people is one of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla’s initiative of promoting public health and also civil-military relationship.

“At the inception of his command, apart from ensuring safety on the waterways, he also planned to ensure that public health, especially, where the Navy establishments are; the people there also receive health assistance.”

He explained that the outreach was meant to benefit over 1,000 persons with diverse ailments, assuring that the medical outreach would be extended to other communities in the State.

“Estimated beneficiary is 1,000 people and even more because we have enough medical supplies to go round and we are giving them free drugs, eye examination and glasses, treated mosquito nets, blood pressure and blood sugar testing, and dental services, amongst others.”

“Our experts and qualified doctors from the Nigerian Navy are on ground to perform these treatments.”

In his remarks, the Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom, His Majesty, King Dr Dandeson Douglas Jaja, DSSRS, Jeki V, who was represented by Dr Dienye Bell-Gam, commended the Nigerian Navy for bringing the outreach to the area, calling on the government to extend their medical services to other satellite towns in Opobo Kingdom.

“We have a lot of health problems in our area because of our environment and we also have satellite communities and we need medical presence in those areas, especially, medical outposts.

“Let me also request to the government that we want water ambulance because there are a lot of medical emergencies that has led to deaths in many cases and we also have hard to reach areas that are waterlogged.”

Also speaking, Chairman of Opobo/Nkoro LGA, Enyiada Cooley-Gam, who was represented by his Vice and Supervisor for Health, Dr Angela Anthony-Ojukemie, expressed delight at the turnout of people for the programme, adding that the outreach was coming at a time that people lack healthcare.

“I must say that I’m impressed by what I have seen here, the turnout of people coming to access this free medical care that is being provided by the NNS Pathfinder. I must say that it is a very good thing even at this point in time that people lack healthcare,” she said.

While thanking the Navy for the gesture, she noted that the Rivers State government is doing much for the people, especially, in the area of primary healthcare

Chief Medical Director of the General Hospital, Opobo Town, Dr Deekia Banks-Leebari commended the efforts by the NNS Pathfinder to entrench military-civil relationship through the outreach, saying that the medical community was happy with the Navy.

“The Naval Command Unit has impressed the hospital community and the people of Opobo Kingdom with this outreach.

“The striking thing about this medical outreach is the military connection to public health care in communities of the Niger Delta region.

“Even though they have been holding it at several places to me, as a medical doctor working with the Rivers State Hospital Management Board, I am so excited because of the level of turnout today.”

One of the beneficiaries, who had her eyes screened and given free glasses, Florence Okoro said the gesture has brought great relief to her.

“The concerns I have about my eye is over, I feel like Jesus has touched me. I am healed. Because they gave me eyeglasses and some eye drops which I will be using to apply to my eyes. I am thankful to the Nigerian Navy for this gesture.”