A 5- day free medical treatment has been rounded-off at cottage hospital, Ekpene Obo, in Esit Eket local Government Area.
The programmed which witnessed a large turn- out of patients was sponsored by The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in collaboration with Esit Eket Local Government Council and Global Hands Medical Foundation, a non-governmental organization based in the United States of America.
In his remarks at the opening ceremony, the Esit Eket Council boss, Obong Ibanga Etang, paid glowing tribute to Governor Godswill Akpabio for the free medical treatment for pregnant women, the aged and children below five years in government hospitals.
He listed the free and compulsory education in public primary and secondary schools as some of the greatest legacies of the state government to improve the living standard of the people, ensure longevity and to brighten the prospects of Akwa Ibom children.
He appreciated the commission for the intervention in health, education and social services and other sectors for residents of the rural areas.
According to him, the intervention, will restore hope and confidence of the people in the commission and justify the rationale behind the establishment of the body to mitigate the hash effect of exploration and exploitation activities by oil companies operating in the region.
Etang, applauded Global Hands Medical Foundation for selecting Esit Eket for the pilot scheme, appealed the programme should be made an annual event.
The Managing Director of the commission, Sir Bassey Dan Abia, while flagging-off the exercise recalled the free medical programme which started 14 years ago was conceived to bring health care to the door step of the rural communities.
He thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for providing an enabling environment for the commission to thrive, noted, after the programme the people of Esit Eket will bid farewell to endemic health challenges that plagued them.
Abia, represented by the Akwa Ibom commissioner, Mr. Etim Inyang Jnr., disclosed the commission is poised to provide basic infrastructures, educational facilities and effective health delivery system to the people of the region.
The Director, Global Hands Medical Foundation, Dr. Kathrine Ntekim, opined, the collaboration will afford them the opportunity to impact on the society through gender specific programmes for the poor, hard to rich and special target groups who resides in the rural area without access to proper medical care or attention.
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