The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has reported that it’s free health medical outreach program at Ukwa General Hospital in Oke Ikpe, Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, benefited over 2,000 patients during its first phase.
While addressing the week-long free healthcare program, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), announced that over 2,000 patients received free medical care.
This information was contained in a statement sent to newsmen by Pius Ughakpoteni, Director of Corporate Affairs at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), in Port Harcourt on Friday.
Ogbuku stated that the free healthcare was organised in partnership with Derums Global Services to bring healthcare to rural communities across the Niger Delta region.
Ogbuku, who was represented by the Abia State representative on the NDDC Board, Chief Eruba Dimgba, said the medical outreach programme was targeted at changing the health situation and narrative of the medically underserved people in the region.
He remarked, “The programme has in the recent past been the flagship of the commission, serving to endear the commission to these medically needy communities, with documented evidence and testimonies, abounding of their beneficial impact in enhancing the quality of life of the rural poor in the Region.
“The objective of the programme undertaken in collaboration with various healthcare organisations is to ensure access to good healthcare services by removing financial barriers to accessing good and qualitative healthcare services posed by the prevailing high costs of healthcare services in the midst of a weakened Health system and infrastructure.”
The Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) stressed that good health is a fundamental aspect of the commission’s mandate to facilitate sustainable development in the Niger Delta Region.
He said, “This is in line with the position adopted by Mr. President during the commemoration of the 2023 World Universal Health Coverage Day with the Theme: Health for All, Time for Action, where he emphasized the import of placing health and social well -being of Nigerians as a key part of his Renewed Hope Agenda.”
