President of the Senate, David Mark has mobilized Medical personnel and other health workers to his Benue South Senatorial zone to provide free health care services to the sick and the poor especially in rural communities.
Mark facilitated the two day health programmme through Uriel Foundation (UF) in Collaboration with Grassroots Health Care Foundation(GHF) , both non-governmental organizations (NGO) at Jesus College Otukpo, Benue state.
At least 7,000 patients ( beneficiaries ) from the nine local government areas of the constituency were treated by the medical team comprising 75 Medical Doctors, 85 Nurses, 14 Pharmacists, Six Dentists, Eight Optometrists and 15 Administrative officers.
The free medical services rendered included but not limited to surgeries such as Excision of lumps, Hernioraphy and Hydrocelectomy in which 15 patients were operated upon, dental services, eye treatment and distribution of 500 free eye glasses, 5,000 mosquito nets, laboratory tests as well as de-worming of over 2000 school children.
Addressing the health care providers and the beneficiaries, Mark appreciated the donors for bringing health care services to his constituents pointing out that “health is wealth because a healthy nation is a wealthy nation “.
Mark underscored the importance of health care to the citizenry saying that the nation requires a healthy workforce needed to produce the wealth of the nation.
For Mark, “Education and health care are the most important needs of the citizens. That is why I remain eternally grateful to the medical team for responding to the needs of my people”.
He promised that the National Assembly will continue to give priority to budgetary allocation to the health sector in order to make it more efficient and affordable to the citizenry.
In his remarks, the traditional ruler of Otukpo, Ochi’Otukpo Odu, Dr. John Eimonye expressed appreciation to the President of the Senate for facilitating the provision of health services to his subjects.
The traditional ruler however requested for the regular and sustenance of the programme in order to meet the health needs of the people.
Earlier in her remarks, the President of Uriel Foundation,(UF) Dr. Genevieve Ndukwu explained the rationale behind the free health services saying ” We in UF and GHF believe that giving something back to the society is our obligatory responsibility and a necessary component in closing the loop evident in the cycle of societal existence”.
Dr. Ndukwu noted that the free health services to Benue South is in support and indeed appreciation to the President of the Senate for his unwavering commitment to national development.
To actualize the programme, She said the NGO mobilized drugs, equipment , facilities, logistics and other ancillary items worth millions of Naira .
Dr. Ndukwu promised to extend the services to other rural communities in the country in due course.
