Association commences free medical outreach in Akwa Ibom

The National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity), Atlantic Shores Deck (Eket Chapter), has begun free medical outreach in Oron Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state.

Mr Herbert Nwaka, Area Mate IV, representing Rivers, Bayelsa, Abia and Akwa Ibom who flagged off the programme on Monday, said the free medical outreach was in response to the growing desperation in the country for medical services.

“Many citizens struggled with a regressing economy, especially at the advent of the new year when citizens are recovering from yuletide festivities and struggling with other domestic bills.

Hence the need for the organisation to leverage on its broad human resources to help communities and individuals,” Nwaka said.

He said that NAS was in collaboration with all the Decks in Area IV, to carry out a Free Medical Outreach at the National Museum, Oron, Akwa Ibom.

He noted that the Area IV of the National Association of Seadogs covers Decks (Chapters) comprising Rivers, Bayelsa, Abia, and Akwa Ibom states.

Nwaka said the essence of the outreach was to reach people and communities in dire need of medical services.

“Our prayers and expectation are to see as many as possible come out and be treated by the professionals who are treating them and ensure they get well.

“Parts of our call and responsibility is to take care of life and downtrodden, give a helping hand to those who can not afford their medical bills and who are in dire need of the services,” Nwaka said.

He revealed that NAS had been conducting full-blown medical missions, adding that the free medical outreach was to follow up on what the headquarters had been doing.

“The general success of what we expect today is to have as many people who need this services to come out and get treated freely,” he said.

In his remarks, Mr Utibe Ikot, The Cap’n, Atlantic Shores Deck, remarked that NAS had been involved in a medical mission for humanistic ideals since 1952.

“For Humanistic Ideals” has been a major objective for which NAS has carried out several medical humanitarian causes over the years featuring: medical equipment to health facilities, payment of medical bills of indigent patients, organising free medical missions and outreaches, and support to various hospital blood banks.

“This is also pursuant to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal Number 3: “Good Health and Well Being”, which is currently, one of the four strategic programme areas of NAS.

According to him, the location of the outreach was strategic because it lies by the beach, where there are a lot of fishing, trading, and transportation activities, and health-seeking behaviours are very low, exacerbated by health education and awareness.

He stated that the intervention was part of the Deck’s drive to continually impact its immediate community positively.

“Over 114 persons, including the elderly and children benefitted from the medical outreach, which included diagnosis, treatment and referrals, covering malaria, hypertension, blood sugar checks, asthma, and upper respiratory tract infections.

“Some of the medication administered included antimalarials, digestive disorders, deworming, and other endemic infections and non-surgical medical conditions,” he said.

The lead medical volunteer, Dr. Ekanem Eshiet stated that they were working with five medical doctors, three nurses, and a medical laboratory technician, all of whom were offering their services pro bono.

One of the beneficiaries, Glory Owineng, commended the association for their gesture, describing the free medical outreach as a welcome development and apt.

“We are very grateful to NAS for their services rendered to residents of oron community in the state