NGO Begins Free Health Service For Women, Children In Oguta

A non-governmental organisation, Waltermann Initiative for Democratic Change (WIDC), has begun a free medical programme for children and women in Oguta Local Government Area in Imo.

The Executive Director of WIDC, Mr Walter Uzonwanne, who spoke during the launch of the event in Oguta on Monday, said the NGO targeted 30,000 persons to benefit from the programme.

Uzonwanne said that apart from free diagnoses, beneficiaries would receive free drugs and insecticide treated mosquito nets.

He said the local government had been partitioned into five centres to ensure effective coverage of all the residents.

“To ensure effective participation of Oguta people during WIDC health care service, five centres have been created in Oguta, Ejemekwuru, Agwa, Eziorsu and Egbuoma communities,’’ Uzonwanne said.

He said the NGO was collaborating with the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) in the state to carry out the programme.

Uzonwanne announced that the organisation would organise a football competition for secondary schools in male and female categories as part of its youth development scheme.

The director, who said he was passionate about the health programme, said the NGO was investing N5 million in it while other programmes would cost the organisation about N7 million.

Uzonwanne, who said that his inspiration to assist people was drawn from his experience abroad, urged the Nigerian government to do more in the area of healthcare services to the people.

“Health, they say, is wealth, and if government can enhance healthcare facilities and make them functional, the poverty level in the land will reduce to a manageable level,’’ he said.

Mrs Augustina Ogini, the President of NANNM in Imo, said that her group is partnering with WIDC because of the relevance of its activities on health.

Ogini said that members of the association had also participated in a similar programme in Isiala-Mbano, Mbaise, Ehime-Mbano and Obowo communities in Imo.

Mr Ndubuokwu Okoronkwo, the President of Oguta Community Development Union, thanked Uzonwanne for his people-oriented programme and appealed to the government to introduce such schemes for the people.

Mrs Chioma Udom, a beneficiary, told newsmen that she was impressed with the level of generosity of the organiser of the programme.

“It is very surprising to me that one person is spending so much money for the health of the people. The government should see this as a challenge and do more in the area of healthcare,’’ Udom said.