The lawmaker said, he initiated the annual
health outreach in partnership with Doctors on the move and health
institutions in order to tackle the health needs of his constituents, who ordinarily, could not afford the cost of surgeries and other medical expenses.
Azubogu, who spoke yesterday when he visited some health facilities in Nnewi, Ozubulu, Ukpor and Amichi, all in his constituency, said the health status of poor people in his constituency was the force behind the free medical outreach; as against popular speculations that it was his ambition for 2021 governorship election, that is driving the good gestures of his.
“People have been saying that the ongoing free medical outreach in my
constituency is a campaign strategy towards the 2021 Anambra
governorship election. It is not true. I started the medical outreach
four years ago. We have touched many lives through the free outreach;
we are doing this to touch humanity.
“Since the inception of this outreach four years ago, we have done over 2,000 free surgeries; while over 80,000 patients suffering different health problems have benefitted from the outreach.”
"We are also going to use data we generated from our Medical Outreach to shape policy framework on Healthcare service delivery through, organization of people, institutions, and resources to deliver health care services to meet the health needs of a target population"
He commended mission hospitals that partnered with him in ensuring
that the medical outreach was a success, including the Diocesan
Hospitals in Nnewi, Amichi and Ukpor. He also commended the Federal
Medical Center, Asaba, and the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, for their partnerships in the medical outreach.
He stated that “I will not take the credit alone without. The success story wouldn’t have been complete without thanking some of these partners, whose intervention and involvement were pivotal to the successful outreach,”
he said.
The team leader of Doctors on the Move Africa, Dr. Joseph Kigbu, commended Azubogu for his disposition in helping the less privileged access free medicare. He said their aim of the 2020 edition of the free medical outreach was to handle, at least, 20,000 medical cases
across the length and breadth of Anambra State.
“Our mission in our 2020 annual free medical outreach is to handle, at
least, 20,000 medical cases. So far, we have done 200 cataracts operations, over 200 general and gynecological surgeries, as well as over 10,000 general health cases, and still counting.
“We’re here with 90 health professionals; 12 of them are specialists in different aspects of medicine. This is the type of outreach needed in rural communities, because, the National Health Insurance Scheme has not worked,” he said.
A beneficiary, Ngozi Okwesilieze, from Alor, Idemili North Local Government Area, who had free fibroid operation, commended Hon. Azubogu and the medical team for helping the rural people to have access to quality healthcare at no cost.
In three days, the Outreach has produced 266 free surgeries.
Meanwhile the Medical Outreach is continuing at the various venues.