By Nkechinyere Ewa, Abakaliki
No fewer than 121 farmers and residents of Ikwo/Ezza South federal constituency of Ebonyi State received free medical treatment during a health outreach sponsored by Rt. Hon. Chinedu Ogah member representing Ikwo Ezza South federal constituency at the national assembly.
The medical outreach, held at Blessed Martins Institute of Health Sciences on Saturday, provided beneficiaries with free medical consultations, malaria tests, blood sugar checks, blood pressure screening, eye examinations and medications at no cost.
Speaking after the exercise, the medical team leader, Dr. Oyima Samuel from Akwa Ibom State, said a total of 121 patients were attended to during the outreach.
According to him, the exercise covered comprehensive medical services, including vital signs assessment, laboratory tests and eye screening, all offered free of charge.
Dr. Samuel disclosed that the most common health challenges recorded were peptic ulcer disease and body pains, attributing the latter to the ongoing farming season and the physically demanding nature of agricultural work.
He advised residents not to neglect their health despite their daily struggle for livelihood.
“There is a common saying that the body is not firewood. People should understand that the body needs adequate rest to remain productive. We also encourage everyone, even those who feel healthy, to undergo routine medical check-ups at least once every year,” he said.
The physician also urged residents diagnosed for the first time with high blood pressure or elevated blood sugar levels to seek proper medical follow-up to prevent complications.
On the prevalence of peptic ulcer disease, Dr. Samuel explained that the condition is not caused by hunger alone but is also linked to Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium responsible for many ulcer cases and commonly transmitted through contaminated food and poor hygiene.
Some of the beneficiaries, including Elizabeth Nwigboji and Jane Ngwuta, expressed gratitude to Hon. Ogah for bringing the free healthcare programme to their community.
They noted that many rural farmers often struggle to raise money both for farming activities and transportation to health facilities, describing the outreach as timely and a huge relief.
The beneficiaries called for the programme to be sustained, saying it has improved access to quality healthcare for vulnerable residents who would otherwise be unable to afford medical services.