As a way of marking the World Environment Day 2020, the Finima Youth Congress (FYC) has declared a two weeks free testing and treatment for malaria and typhoid for residents of Finima Community in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Chairman of FYC, Charles Brown, who made the disclosure in a chat with Kristina Reports, said the target beneficiaries were the vulnerable in the community who could not afford payment for the testing and treatment.

Recently, there have been a spike in the outpatient complaints about malaria and typhoid in Bonny LGA as a whole, which sent the medical community into panic mode.

Doctors in the island LGA told Kristina Reports that outpatient visits jumped from a daily average of 40 to 50 persons to about 90 to 100 per day.

Already, positive reactions are trailing the initiative. One of such is coming from the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Bonny Graduate Forum (NGF), Peter Abbey, who described it as well-thought-out and timely, pointing out that this could only have emanated from the mindset of a visionary and pragmatic leadership.  

“It is only a visionary and pragmatic leader that can think in this direction of giving back to his people. This scheme is well thought-out especially in this period that most of our people are having symptoms of malaria and typhoid.”

He appealed that the initiative should go beyond testing and include treatment and the organizers should ensure the administered drugs were genuine and authenticated, given the challenge of fake drugs in Bonny currently.

“I believe this should go beyond mere testing of malaria and typhoid, drugs and injections should be prescribed and administered to the patients who are carriers. Charles and team, may God continue to bless and direct your leadership paths.”

The FYC Chairman said nothing furthers the protection of the environment more than the health and wellbeing of the people, saying that this was the vision behind the free malaria and typhoid testing initiative by the group.

He further revealed that this was “in line with our vision to support the vulnerable in Finima Community,” hence “the Finima Youth Congress is embarking on two weeks free malaria and typhoid testing and treatment scheme for all residents of Finima (indigenes and non-indigenes)”.

“This scheme is for those that cannot afford to pay for malaria and typhoid testing and treatment. The Finima Youth Congress is giving you the opportunity to do so for absolutely free.”

The testing and treatment will take place at the Finima Health Centre for the next two weeks and all residents have been called upon to take advantage of the scheme for their health and wellbeing.

The Finima Youth Congress (FYC) under the leadership of Charles Brown has been praised for its laudable initiatives and people-centred development strides, one of such was the repairs on a section of the Finima Road that failed two weeks ago.

It has also carried out repairs in different parts of Finima where the road failed thus making it easy for road users to drive safely.

Some residents of the community who reacted to the initiative, described it as timely and commendable, one of such, Lambert Brown thanked the Charles brown led executive for coming up with strategically beneficial programs that have positively impacted the people of the area.

Also, Publicity Secretary of the Bonny Graduates Forum (BGF), Jude Pepple succinctly put it this way, “Well done, Charles! You and your team are doing excellently well. God bless you”.