By Henry Ibya, Makurdi
Over 500 patients suffering from different ailments in Benue State recently received free medical treatment courtesy of a non-governmental organisation, NGO, Ujah Abah Education and Health Foundation, UAEHF, with beneficiaries receiving medical care and drugs.
Speaking at the 2023 2-day free medical outreach put together by the foundation which took place at Aidogodo Okpoga in Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State, founder and promoter of the programme, Prof Innocent Ujah, expressed gratitude to God for making the programme a reality despite challenges.
Ujah, also the Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo, equally told dignitaries at the occasion that his decision to sustain the annual free medical outreach particularly in rural communities is a way of giving back to the society.
The founder and chief financial of the free medical outreach appealed to well-to-do individuals to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice as it was better to save lives rather than killing cows during burials and urged people around neighbouring communities to take advantage of the free medical outreach to get themselves examined and treated.
In a remark, chairman of the free medical outreach programme, Dr. Michael Onoja, commended Prof Ujah for sustaining the annual free medical outreach despite the current harsh economic situation, especially with the high cost of drugs and other related medical items, apart from the general logistics and welfare of the medical experts drawn across the country.
He said the massive turnout of patients including youths, women and children as well as the elderly was a clear testimony that the programme has impacted positively on the health condition of beneficiaries.
Some beneficiaries who spoke including Maria Ode and Joseph Adejo, expressed appreciation to the founder of the free medical outreach programme Prof Ujah for initiating the programme.
Mrs Ode particularly attested that she was down with an ailment for a long time and could not access medical treatment for lack of funds, expressing delight that with the help of the free medical outreach, she has been diagnosed as well as given drugs and even glasses to use in reading, which was not part of her primary problem.
She appealed to other well- to- do individuals to emulate professor Ujah by giving back to their communities and pray that God bless him abundantly.