NEDC offers free medical treatment to 3, 000 IDPs in Borno

NEDC offers free medical treatment to 3, 000 IDPs in Borno

North East Development Commission (NEDC), has began a one-week free medical treatment of 3, 000 persons displaced by insurgency in Borno.

Dr Mohammed Alkali, NEDC Managing Director, made the disclosure at the inauguration of the exercise at Umaru Shehu Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri on Thursday.

Alkali disclosed that the exercise would be conducted under its Medical Outreach Scheme, designed to enhance healthcare service delivery and improvement of the well being of persons affected by the conflict in the state.

He said the exercise would be conducted in collaboration with Borno state Government, Pro-Health International Africa (PHIA) and West African College of Surgeons (WACS).

The director bemoaned the death of health facilities ravaged by 10-years insurgency, adding that the trend prevented people from accessing quality services.

“The situation is overwhelming, we are working to mitigate the gaps in the demand for healthcare services in the state,” he said.

According to him, the commission is working to enhance access to healthcare services through rehabilitation of facilities destroyed by insurgents.

Also speaking, Iko Ibanga, Executive Director of the PHIA, disclosed that a total of 1, 197 patients had so far been examined for diagnosis, consultancy, dental, eye and general surgeries in the exercise.

Ibanga explained that about 76 surgeries such as hernia and appendicitis were conducted.

“We also recorded 592 pharmacy patients; 795 consulting services, 48 eye surgeries and 73 patients examined and recommended for eye glasses.

“Others include, 81 dental patients, 199 eye care, 12 referrals and 288 laboratory test were done successfully,” he said.

Ibanga identified overwhelming number of people at the centre and presentation of patients with multiple eye surgeries as some of the challenges facing the exercise.

He, however, commended the state government over the deployment of health personnel, provision of vehicles and logistics to facilitate smooth conduct of the exercise.

By PRNigeria