The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced that its ongoing free medical outreach has benefited over two million residents in the Niger Delta region. The commission’s Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, disclosed this at the flag-off of the medical outreach in Cross River State.
The outreach, which has been conducted in eight states within the region, aims to align with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal of universal health coverage for all. The program is a flagship of the NDDC, targeted at improving the health situation and narrative of the people in the region.
Medical cases such as malaria and fibroid surgeries will be attended to during the outreach. According to Dr. George Uzonwanne, Director of Education, Health and Social Services, the team aims to treat between 3,000 to 3,500 patients, resulting in 12,000 to 15,000 data points, considering that one patient may have multiple interventions. Cases that cannot be handled by the team will be referred to tertiary facilities for treatment.
The flag-off ceremony was attended by notable figures, including Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, Chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC, Okon Owuna, member representing Akamkpa 1 State Constituency, and Ewot Ebani, paramount ruler of Akamkpa.