From Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement in the South-East, Chioma Nweze, at the weekend, flagged off a free medical programme for people of the region.
AljazirahNigeria reports that the medical outreach involves free cancer screening for six months, free eye test and free eye glasses for the first 200 persons, and free dialysis for one year.
In her remarks at the programme organised in partnership with David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, DUFUHS, Uburu, Nweze said “we mark a significant milestone in our quest to improve the health and wellbeing of our people. We recognise that access to quality healthcare is a fundamental human right and it is our responsibility to ensure that every individual in the South East has access to it, regardless of their background or financial situation.”
The presidential aide also flagged off four months free tailoring training with start-up grants titled ‘Skill-up South-East Agenda.’
She disclosed that the tailoring training is aimed at unveiling the fashion potentials in Igbo-land, reiterating the commitment of her office to launch other skills acquisition programmes that will make citizens of the region to become self-reliant and overcome economic challenges.
“Our participants will be selected from each of the 97 local government areas in the South-East, ensuring that every community is represented. We believe that by providing our youths with the necessary skills and resources, we can create a brighter future for ourselves and generations to come.
“We are not only empowering our youths through skills acquisition, we are providing them with the opportunity to develop business plans and pitch their ideas. This will enable them become entrepreneurs and job creators, contributing to the economic growth and development of our region,” she said.
Earlier in a remark, the Vice Chancellor of DUFUTH, Professor Jesse Uneke said “at DUFUTH cancer centre, a total of 207 cancer patients have so far been treated. Out of this number, 88 (42.5 percent) were males, while 119 (57.5 percent) were females. A total of 107 (51.7 percent) of the patients were aged between 40 and 69 years old.
“The commonest cancer were breast cancer 53 (25.6 percent), prostrate cancer 43 (20.8 percent).”
The vice chancellor commended the presidential aide for organising the free medical programme for people of the region.
