As part of her efforts to provide medical care to the less privilege people of Plateau State, the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe has kicked start this year’s edition of her pet project, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) Free Medical Outreach in Langtang North and South of Plateau State.
Declaring the programme open at Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) Comprehensive Health Centre in Zamko Langtang North Local Government Area from Monday 17th – Friday 21st November 2014, Mrs. Ochekpe disclosed that the project was the fourth edition following similar exercises in Zaron, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Heipang State Polytechnic and Pankshin LGA of Plateau State .
Mrs. Ochekpe who expressed great satisfaction as the project got patronage in the three other places said that she was motivated to extend the same to Langtang North and South LGA.
She explained that one of the objectives of taking free medical outreach to the doorsteps of the people is to complement the President Goodluck Jonathan who is also doing well in the health sector.
“I am conscious of the fact that many people in our rural areas do not have access to good medical care and are also not able to access it principally due to lack of finance or the inability to go to places to access the medical care, so we are bringing the free medical care in order to get closer to the grass root where they most needed it”, she said.
A total number of five hundred and ten (510) patients with various health challenges were attended at the opening ceremony of the Programme.
Out of this figure, 53 Laboratory tests were conducted, 304 patients were attended to by general Consultants and a total number of 9 general surgeries were carried out successfully.
In her goodwill message, the Deputy Speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly, Rt. Honourable Joyce Lohya commended Mrs. Ochekpe for taking the free medical care to the people of Plateau State. She stated that just as the people had seen and described her as Ambassador of President Goodluck Jonathan, Mrs. Ochekpe should also be seen and described as a good ambassador of the state.
“You have not only delivered on your responsibility in ensuring improvement in water sector which is your Ministry’s mandate, but you have gone beyond that by providing free medical care to our people knowing full well that as water is life also good heath is wealth”, Hon Joyce stated.
She thanked the Minister on behalf of the beneficiaries and the entire people of State and assured her that the State Government is aware of what she is doing. “We say thank you and your medical team; we are very grateful and proud of you as our own mother”.
The free medical outreach is a project sponsored by Mrs Sarah Ochekpe and friends; SCC Nigeria limited, National Emergency Agency, NEMA and the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with Urban Frontiers Mission International, Association of Resident Doctors, JUTH and Afri foundation.
Present at the opening ceremony were ,Hon. Exo Nandong Pyenap, Hon. Member representing Langtang in Plateau State House of Assembly, Deputy Chairman, Langtang North, Mr. Jonah Chir Man, Commissioner of Health represented by Dr. Adeyinka Mathew, Dr. Katherine Uzoma, a US Project Cure representative and Rt. Col. Dauda Nimmyel, District Head of Pil- Gani.
