Board Takes Medical Outreach To Drivers

The Rivers State Primary
Health Care Management Board has organised a free medical outreach programme for boat drivers to ensure their medical fitness and alertness.
The Executive Secretary of Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board, Dr. Claribel  Abam said the exercise.was to ensure that the boat drivers were physically and mentally fit as they ply the waterways.
According to Dr. Abam who was represented by the Director, Occupational and Environmental Health Services, Dr Nduye Briggs, the programme was mainly to sensitise the seamen on safety rules like the appropriate use of fire extinguishers, the need to have first aid boxes and life rests as well as to conduct medical tests  in order to reduce man-made accidents along the waterways.
She said” we found out that boat drivers do not have the time to do medical examinations for themselves, Based on that, rather than wait for them to come to us, we now moved down to the waterfronts to conduct these basic tests”.
The Executive Secretary said health personnel were there to conduct eye tests to ascertain the visual capabilities and defects in the drivers, screen them for diabetes and other minor ailments and also deliver a health talk on safety and best practices.
Those who are diagnosed with any illnesses would be referred to the closest health facilities within their catchment area for further treatment under the state government’s free medical programme.
She advised them to avail themselves of the opportunity of free treatment and warned that those who fail the medical examination by the next medical outreach would be handed over to the relevant authorities for appropriate disciplinary actions.
Andrew  Awaji who spoke on  behalf of the beneficiaries thanked the state Goverment.