Foundation Offers Free Medical Services To 500 People In Rivers
No fewer than 500 persons have benefitted from free medical services in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. The medical outreach is the initiative of a lupus warrior, Miss Ijeoma Ozigbu.
Miss Ozigbu, who was diagnosed with lupus eight years ago, said she decided to carry out the medical intervention to impact ordinary citizens.
Speaking at the event, the philanthropist said the free healthcare services offered through a foundation, ‘Lupus Haven’, include free health checkups, and counselling. Other services, she said included drug dispensing, eye checkups and dispensing of medicated glasses.
Ozigbu further said she had targeted 250 patients, but over 400 persons were attended to at noon on Wednesday, with more still more patients still trooping in.
“We are giving eye check, giving out medicated eyeglasses, we are checking blood sugar, malaria, typhoid, ulcer and we are also doing kidney and liver check,” said the motivation was the desire to help people in need.
“I am from a family where my parents are very generous and so I grew up always wanting to help everyone around me. So I felt instead of spending money on birthday frivolities, I should use it to help people who cannot afford basic healthcare,” Miss Ozigbu stated.
The lupus warrior advised people living with the disease to speak out, rather than be shy, in order to get the necessary medical support.
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Also speaking, the Founder of Lupus Haven and a parent of a lupus patient, Mrs Pat Ozigbu, said the foundation had a road walk during the weekend to create more awareness about the lupus disease.
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According to her, Lupus Haven which is in its third year was set up in other to touch lives, after her daughter’s friend died of the disease.
“This birthday was initiated by my daughter because she wants to meet the medical needs of people and put smiles on their faces. We are giving out over 100 treated eyeglasses, amongst other medical interventions.
“In May we were in Oyigbo, Ogbunabali; we have been to Buguma (all in Rivers State) twice, and other places. We have reached out to seven lupus patients in Port Harcourt, it was supposed to be eight, unfortunately, one person passed away two months ago,” she explained.
For his part, Prof Aaron Ojule who is a member of Lupus Haven, said systemic lupus erythematosus, is an auto-immune disorder where the immune system attacks its own tissues.
Ojule said lupus can affect any organs of the body such as the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs.
“Only Rheumatologists can make a proper diagnosis and treatment as it was not every medical doctor who can handle it. Science has not found a cure yet but it can be adequately managed if properly diagnosed early.”
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, a community leader in Rumuomasi, Chief Festus Adele, commended Lupus Haven for the free medical intervention, saying that he came for the medical outreach because of his eyes and blood pressure.
