Dame Okowa’s Free Grassroots Medical Outreach Commences In Delta South

As part of the Free Grassroots Medical Outreach by O5 Initiative in partnership with Restore Sight Africa, across Delta State, wife of the Governor, Dame Edith Okowa has disclosed that, over 1000 persons have benefitted from the outreach in the Delta Central District of the State.

Dame Okowa who is the founder of O5 Initiative stated this at the flag-off of the outreach for Delta South region on Wednesday, October 13, 2021 at the General Hospital Oleh in Isoko South Local Government Area of the State.

She noted that the medical outreach which coincides with this year’s World Sight Day, celebrated every second week of October, is to raise awareness of visual impairment and give attention to proper care of the eyes.

She said, “Blindness is a life threatening condition, it brings depression and hinders movement. Many persons suffer due to lack of affordable medical care, illiteracy and poverty. That is why we have brought this outreach to your doorstep in order to increase accessibility and remove the barrier of cost”.

Dame Okowa recalled that a total of 26,304 persons were reached at the first edition of the outreach held in 2018 with beneficiaries still testifying about its impact and as such this second edition which commenced at General Hospital Eku for Delta Central, has recorded large turnout with “over 1000 patients seen, 108 Surgeries done, 537 glasses given and 676 eye drops dispensed”.

While appreciating the efforts of the 8 local government chairmen in Delta South District for the awareness and large turnout, She assured that provision has been made for Covid-19 tests, free eye screening, surgery, distribution of free glasses and free medication for the 4 days outreach.

She commended Restore Sight Africa Team led by Dr Ernest Ogbedo and Medical personnel of the State Ministry of Health for their support and commitment towards the free outreach, even as she expressed her desire for every Deltan to be healthy and enjoy the benefit of the Prosperity Agenda of the present administration.

In their separate remarks, the Chairman, Isoko South, Mr. Victor Asasa affirmed that “service to humanity is service to God and Her Excellency has been so kind to the people and we are very grateful”.

Dr. Ogbedo of Restore Sight Africa said, “there is no state in Nigeria that does eye care in this magnitude and while we move about our daily activities even in our places of abode, we encounter beneficiaries whose stories have changed”.