Dame Okowa Inaugurates 22nd Sickle Cell Clinic as Over 7,500 Patients Benefit from O5 Free Medical Outreach

Following her passion to care for less privileged individuals and impact on the healthcare sector, Wife of Delta Governor, Dame Edith Okowa has unveiled the 22nd clinic for sickle cell patients built by her O5 Initiative Foundation in the state.

Dame Okowa, inaugurated the health facility at the General Hospital, Ozoro, Isoko North Local government area on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 during the flag-off of a 5-day free medical outreach for residents of Isoko federal constituency.

The governor’s wife who opined that future first ladies may not have passion for sickle cell advocacy, appealed for consolidation of projects established by O5 Initiative for sickle cell patients across the state.

“The person coming after me may not have a passion for sickle cell but I beg you all in the name of God to ensure that this legacy lives on. Own this vision and let this facility be maintained so that it lives on to achieve the aim of its establishment”, she pleaded.

Wife of the Delta state Governor and Founder O5 Initiative, Dame Edith (Right) presenting eye glass to a beneficiary of the free Medical Outreach organized for residence of Isoko Federal Constituency during the Inauguration of the 22nd Sickle Cell Clinic at the General Hospital Ozoro/ flag off of the free grass root medical outreach.

Dame Okowa tasked Doctors and Nurses at the clinic to prioritize treatment of sickle cell warriors as measures will be deployed to check staff efficiency.

“As a retired teacher, the same way I am concerned about teachers carrying out their duties is how I am concerned about health workers delivering on their duties.

“We are going to leave a phone number behind so that if patients come and there is no one to attend to them, they can easily reach us and raise an alarm. When the report gets to us, we then know what to do to the offenders.

“I beg again, please don’t let anyone rubbish this clinic, it must work for future generations”, she appealed.

On the medical outreach for Isoko constituents, She urged political office holders, community leaders and all those in privileged positions to ensure that they bring their people to access free medical care as eye care and general body check up, including cervical cancer screening will be carried out for free.

It would be recalled that, the O5 Initiative free medical outreach for 2022 cycle which commenced in March, has so far taken place in 6 federal constituencies in the state with a total of 7,611 patients benefiting from the gesture.

Dame Edith at the Theater Room of the General Hospital, Ozoro where O5 Initiative free surgery is being carried out during the Inauguration of the Sickle Cell Clinic at the General Hospital Ozoro/ flag off of the free grassroot medical outreach.

A breakdown shows that, 1,095 free eye Surgeries were performed, 4,931 free Glasses and 2,507 Eye Drops were distributed to residents of Warri, Ethiope, Burutu, Patani/Bomadi, Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie and Ughelli/Udu federal constituencies.

Coordinator, Restore Sight Africa Initiative and Chief Ophthalmologist of the group, Dr Ernest Ogbedo, described the persistent cases of blindness and sight defects as an ‘Iceberg Phenomenon’, noting that only 10% of those affected have showed up for the free medical outreaches organized by O5 Initiative since 2018 across the state.

“A lot of persons are unreached and that is why we keep pleading with our leaders to ensure that the unreached are reached to access this free medical care”. Dr Ogbedo noted.

The Chairmen, Isoko North and South Local Government Areas, in a group remark, appreciated the governor’s wife for showing love to Deltans by bringing free healthcare to the door steps of the people.