Akpodiete’s foundation gives free medical care, fish farming training to Ughelli people

By Atevure Princess,

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A Non-Governmental organisation (NGO), Olotu and Ekuogbe Akpodiete Foundation (OEAF), has offered free medical services, including   high blood pressure, sugar level checks and general consultation to over 50 men and women and living in Otor- Ihwerko community, Ughelli, Delta State.

The humanitarian gesture, which was organised weekend at the community’s town hall, was part of the NGO’s 2018 outreach programme, aimed at providing health care services to men and women, as well as to sensitize them on the importance of fish farming.

At the event tagged “Fish farming Value Chain and one day free medical programme, was aimed at reducing the rate participants were trained on various aspect of fish handling, such as water management, disease control, fish feeds (food) and feeding and marketing strategies amongst others.

In a chat with the founder of the NGO, (Mr) Olotu Akopdiete, he stated that the prograrmme was aimed at reducing the rates of unemployment, he explained that fish farming business is an enterprise that one could start, using any amount of money, no matter how small, and also meant to care for the immediate medical needs of the people at no cost as drugs would be given to patients after treatment.

A representative of the beneficiaries lauded the programmes and called on other youths to key into fish farm.

Certificates were thereafter issued to participants at the end of the training.

Speaking further on the free medical outreach, Akpodiete stated that the programme was initiated to provide medical treatment and counseling for age-related ailments like high blood pressure, sugar level checks and general consultation.

“The motive is to help the indigent people in the communities and the poor who cannot afford to seek medical attention get medical care.”

According to him, the decision to embark on free medical care is due to his passion for humanity and to assist the people of the community, who couldn’t access medical care.

“This initiative came up because l should contribute my quota by bringing health care closer to my people and creating awareness on the need for them to be healthy.

“So, it is my duty to organise such programme and it is not the first and it is not going to be the last.

“I think my people are happy for it and I am happy as well,” he said.

Chief Morrison Olori, a beneficial of the exercise praised the organisation for the kind gesture and urged the residents to fully participate in the programme to ensure its success.

“I call on the people of the community to take advantage of the exercise and go for regular medical check-ups, if they must live long,” he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Chief (Mrs) Olori, commended the foundation for providing free medical treatment to under-privileged people. “I am very grateful to  Olotu & Ekuogbe Akpodiete Foundation for this gesture.

“I urge other organisations and Non-Governmental organisations to emulate this kind gesture,”  she said.

Beneficiaries who are drawn from various communities in Ughelli, expressed joy over the exercise, according to Mrs Akpesiri Gladys; “I am very happy, seeing this kind of thing happening in the society, I have not seen this kind of thing in this community before, thank God we have an illustrious son who has the interest of the people at heart, may God continue to bless him and strengthen this Organisation,” she said.