The people of Awa Afaha Clan in Onna local government council of AkwaIbom State will ever remain grateful to one of their own, Ini Ray Inyang, a US-based indigene of the area who through her Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Care Bridge Foundation, rendered free healthcare services to them.
The free health care service, which was organized in conjunction with Akwa Ibom State Association of Nigeria (AKISAN), Florida chapter and Ibom Community Health Alliance, brought over 40 health workers including physicians, nurses, pharmacists and others, to provide non-surgical medical services to hundreds of people in the area.
Among the services carried out included hypertension check, diabetes check, malaria, breast and prostate cancer checks and aches and pains screening. Others included, HIVS/AIDS screening, ulcers and other infections.
Commending the kind gesture of the organizers, Walter Samuel Adiakpan said, the exercise was being experienced in the clan for the first time; thanking the donor for remembering the community from far away Florida, USA.
“It is a good thing; it is a new development; we have not seen this before in this area, because our daughter overseas remembered us, and decided to bring this to her people in the village; it is a commendable feat,” Adiakpan said.
He said, it was something that should be continued periodically, as such would give them a sense of belonging; adding that they were grateful to their daughter; the medication given to them are good because the volunteer doctors are known to them to be good ones. He advised other Awa Afaha sons and daughters to emulate the gesture by bringing good things they see outside the village.
Speaking on what motivated her into taking to the venture, Ini Ray Inyang said it had always been her long aged desire to give back to her roots. According to her, once people are healthy, they will remain happy for a better future.
“As a proud daughter of Awa Afaha clan, I thought it necessary to come back and give back to my root; and give them opportunity for medical check-up, and make sure they are in healthy condition. I feel people who are healthy are stronger. So, with the little resources we have, we can make a difference,” she said.
She said she was impressed with the turn out, and expected a large crowd. She was she equally happier that there were volunteers of medical team that were able to cope with the large turnout; adding that they were able to provide medication and help the people for the first time, which was one day; and that subsequent exercise will be for one week.
Among those who benefitted from the scheme were village heads who were given special attention; women, children, men and youths, who turned up in their numbers.
Majority of the beneficiaries thanked the sponsor and organizers for the kind gesture; stressing that the drugs given to them would help them for sometimes, as such have made many people to access medical treatment; noting that lack of money could sometimes cause persons to die when it was not time for them to die.
It was gathered from the health workers during the exercise that the most prevalent ailments during the one-day free health screening and treatment were malaria, diabetes and hypertension.
A 24-year-old housewife, Eka Ntiedo Akpan, whose daughter was treated and given some drugs thanked the organizers for the magnanimity; and asked for more of such services in the future.
