PCNI, Taraba Govt, Others Treat Over 2000 Patients in Free Medical Outreach in Takum

The Presidential Committee on North East Initiatives in collaboration with the Taraba State Government,  Pro-Health International and the West African Association of Surgeons have treated over 2000 patients in a free medical outreach which began on Tuesday in Takum.

Head of Humanitarian,  Rehabilitation and Resettlement of PCNI, Dr.  Sidi Mohammed told journalists during the official flag off of the free medical outreach that the initiative was aimed at reaching out to less privileged people especially those who fled insurgency in the north east.

“At the height of the insurgency,  most people were displaced and most of these people can’t afford to pay medical bills,  so the programme is designed to reach out to such categories of people”.

“We have another medical programme specifically for those in IDPs camps,  but only 10 percent of the displaced people are in camp, so that’s why we are here in General Hospital Takum to reach out to as a many as possible”.

“During our one week outreach programme here,  we will be treating people of various ailments and conducting minor surgeries and attending to other health needs of the people, ” he said”.

On her part, the Programme Manager, Pro-Health International, Juliet Hananiya said the partnership has helped a lot of less privileged people in the northeast who hitherto could not access medical care.

According to her, over 2000 patients had been treated of various ailments even as she expressed joy that 38 patients have so far undergone successful surgery,  adding that more would be operated upon before the programme which would round off on Friday.

Head of surgeon, Dr. Gabriel Toma in an interview with journalists said pro Health International was concerned with quality health care delivery and would continue to help the less privileged to have access to medical care for the good of the society.

He said in other outreach programmes the organization targeted 170 surgery cases but with the curfew in Takum which limits working hours, the organization was targeting anything above 70 completed surgical operations.

According to him,  they have so far done 38 surgeries since the beginning of the outreach on Monday.

Also, the Commissioner for Health,  Dr. Innocent Vakkai in an interview with journalists commended Governor Darius Ishaku for holding the health needs of the people of the state at heart.

“The Governor has the interest of the people of the State at heart and that’s why he has renovated some general hospitals in each of the senatorial zones of the state,” he said.

Some of the beneficiaries of the outreach programme who spoke to our correspondent commended the Federal Government for the gesture and called for the extension of the programme to other areas of the State.

One of the beneficiaries Mr. Richard Sak thanked PCNI for offering free treatment to the masses and prayed that God would reward those behind it, even as he called for the  expansion of the programme to engage more people.