Pictures: Free medical attention in progress as Mr Chukwuleta Ndubuisi supervises the programme
By Eche Nwaobasi, Nnewi
The leadership of the Ogbogwu Drug Market, Bridge Head, Onitsha, in collaboration with the Anambra State Ministry of Health, has commenced a five-day free medical outreach aimed at providing healthcare services to traders who cannot afford hospital treatment.
The outreach, which began on Tuesday, is being held at the market’s headquarters and has attracted hundreds of enthusiastic traders seeking medical attention.
The medical team comprises two doctors, seven nurses, an optician, a pharmacist and other healthcare personnel deployed by the Anambra State Ministry of Health.
The market leadership is providing the logistics and support needed for the successful implementation of the programme.
Speaking to journalists, the Chairman of Ogbogwu Market, Mr. Chukwuleta Ndubuisi, described the initiative as a people-oriented programme conceived by his executive committee to improve the wellbeing of traders, particularly low-income earners.
According to him, the market executive partnered with the Ministry of Health, which supplied the medical professionals, while the market leadership handled the logistics.
Ndubuisi explained that the outreach was part of the administration’s commitment to making a meaningful impact on the lives of traders.
He recalled that the market executive had earlier established a medical clinic within the market headquarters to provide regular healthcare services, adding that promoting the welfare of traders remains one of its core responsibilities.
The chairman described the response from traders as overwhelming, revealing that several hundred people were attended to on the first day alone.
“We are optimistic that by the end of the five-day programme, over 3,000 traders will have benefited from the free medical treatment,” he said.
On the cost of the exercise, Ndubuisi acknowledged that the programme would require substantial financial resources but insisted that the welfare of traders was more important than the expenses involved.
“We are not looking at the huge cost. Our concern is to ensure that as many traders as possible benefit from this programme.
“So far, we have spent about ₦5 million on the procurement of essential drugs for patients, and we are fully prepared to sustain the programme until its successful conclusion,” he disclosed.
He expressed satisfaction with the turnout and commended the traders for embracing the initiative, describing it as a clear indication of the need for accessible healthcare within the market community.
Tags: Ogbogwu Market, Onitsha, Anambra State, Free Medical Outreach, Healthcare
