Nigerian-born U.S.-based physicians begin free medical mission in Abia

By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom
Umuahia, April 8, 2024

Nigerian-born U.S.-based physicians say they have commenced a free medical mission targetted at 7,000 Abia residents with different health challenges.

The team, operating under the auspices of the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA), said this at a news briefing they organised in Umuahia on Monday.

The President of the Association, Dr Chinyere Anyaogu, said that the programme was being handled by ANPA, in partnership with the Abia Government.

She said that the group would also organise a training programme, known as Helping Babies Survive Programme, targeted at addressing neonatal mortality, particularly infant asphyxia at birth.

Anyaogu also said that Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Basic Life Support  Training as well as Stop the Bleed Training would be conducted for initial responders in emergency healthcare cases.

She further said that the trainings would be done in separate locations in the state to encourage evidence-based practice that would help to elevate healthcare delivery in the state.

“We hope to be able to achieve our goal and create quality care for the numerous people who have been registered across the 17 Local Government Areas of the state.

“This would enable people to get the care given not just by ANPA, but also by our numerous sponsors that are supporting to be able to have us perform this,” Anyaogu said.

The ANPA Mission Chair, Dr Dele Ekusanmi, said that the group had been conducting annual medical missions for more than 25 years.

Dele said that no fewer than 60 volunteer doctors from the U.S and at least 100 from around  Nigeria would be participating in the mission.

“We are here to take care of surgeries and medical consultations.

“The programme would run for one week and we would be in contact with majority of the people who need to be contacted via telemedicine consultation after this mission,” he said.

In a remark, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Ngozi Okoronkwo, said at least 5,000 patients registered to benefit from the exercise.

Okoronkwo said that the government was determined to partner with health stakeholders to enhance access to quality healthcare services.

According to her, about N200 million had been projected for the ANPA medical mission to ensure that the programme would be a success.

“We may fall short, it may be more as the programme progresses.

“We had to set up new Operating Rooms so that we can accommodate more of the surgeons coming for the programme.

“We have collated the data of all the patients and they would be given a follow-up healthcare until they make full recovery,” Okoronkwo said.

The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Prof. Azubuike Onyebuchi, thanked the group and other volunteers and partners for their sacrifice toward saving lives.

Onyebuchi, who is the Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia said that all arrangements had been made to have a successful outreach.