Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
The National Association of Seadogs (NAS), Pyrates Confraternity through its Olympus Marino Deck, in collaboration with Barrakuda X, Aquamella X and Oxbow Marino Decks, has provided free medical services to about 1,000 residents of Opobo Kingdom in Rivers State.
The outreach, themed ‘Health for All: Bridging the Care Gap in Opobo Kingdom’, also uncovered cases of hypertension, visual disorders, malaria and parasitic infections among residents.
The exercise brought together doctors, optometrists, dentists, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals who provided consultations, drugs, eye and dental care, health education and enrolment support under the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme.
The initiative was supported by Purple Eyes Dental Clinics and St. Patrick’s Hospital.
Speaking during the exercise, NAS medical doctor, Dr. Emmanuel Kinika Orlu, said the mission was organised to address identified gaps in healthcare delivery while contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 on good health and well-being.
“Today in Opobo, there are identified healthcare gaps that we have met today. That is being handled by a team of experts,” Orlu said.
He said the services included “consultations, drug dispensary, dental care services, optometry, health insurance and health promotion and education to tell the people how to carry out preventive health.”
According to Orlu, findings from the exercise would also provide advocacy material for government and relevant agencies to address healthcare needs in the kingdom.
A medical doctor and emergency physician, Dr. Atama Valentine, said Opobo’s island location influenced the decision to take the medical mission to the community.
“Opobo is a kingdom which is situated on an island. There are a lot of persons here who find it difficult to access healthcare,” Valentine said.
He disclosed that the medical team encountered critically ill patients who faced difficulties accessing healthcare facilities, prompting some members to visit patients in their homes.
On the conditions identified, Valentine said: “We’ve seen quite a number of hypertensive heart diseases. We have also seen a lot of visual problems… infestation, parasite infestation, malaria infestation and all those things.”
The lead organiser and Capoon of Olympus Marino Deck, Ateli Biambo, described the programme as the deck’s signature project, noting that the participating decks had joined forces to take healthcare to underserved communities.
“We are here on a health for all, bridging the gap in Opobo Medical Mission,” he said.
Biambo said the Opobo exercise was the sixth edition of the recurring October 1 medical mission, which had previously been held in Buguma, Degema, Ahoada West, Etche and Kono.
The representative of King Charles Douglas MacPepple Jaja, Chief Chamberlain Peterside, commended NAS for bringing free healthcare to the kingdom.
“At this critical moment when you see that the cost of medication is very high, having this type of programme is a very great relief to us,” Peterside said.
He urged the organisers to expand the range of services in subsequent editions.
President of Barrakuda X Deck, Kingsley Ikeokwu, attributed the success of the outreach to collaboration among the participating decks.
“It’s very easy to break one stick of a broom, but when they are together you can’t break it,” he said.
Area 5 Supervisor, Eke Chinedu, said NAS would continue efforts to bridge healthcare gaps by providing free medical services and referring cases requiring further treatment.
“We try to bridge that gap of healthcare to the people and make sure they get it. And the ones you can’t handle, you need them documented to go further to a hospital,” he said.