NGO Concludes Health Outreach Programme In Edo Community

By Jesse Everly/ Benin

New Horizons Aid and Development Initiative, a Non Governmental Organization, in its bid to ensure healthy and happy living in the society, has carried out a community health outreach programme in Ulemon in Benin City, Edo State.

The programme was carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs – which also gathered stakeholders from across the state on a one-day Peace and Security Enlightenment Town Hall meeting – with the theme: “Continuing Dialogue to Promote Peace, Healthy Living and Sustainable Development in the Niger Delta region.”

New Horizons Aid and Development Initiative, during the programme held on Thursday, March 15th, 2018, carried out general health checks on all residents of the community; comprising of blood pressure, blood glucose test, malaria, hepatitis A, B, C, D and E and HIV tests after which the pharmaceutical department distributed mosquito nets, condoms and also gave out free drugs.

While delivering a lecture on Hygiene and Communicable Diseases, Dr. Andrew Fiateide, who is the lead Doctor of the NGO, charged the community folks to improve on their health, especially hygiene and sanitation.

Dr. Fiateide, who said most of the residents don’t seek medical attention, stressed the need for them to go to the hospital for regular health checkup.

He also advised them to maintain good hygiene culture such as hand washing, cough etiquette, environmental cleaning, cleaning of blood and body fluid spillage, personal protective clothing, laundry and proper handling of chemical waste, saying that neglecting these practices can lead to contamination and spread of diseases.

Dr. Fiateide also urged parents to ensure that their children are properly vaccinated according to vaccination schedules.

While sensitizing the people on the transmission and control of the various forms of hepatitis, Dr. Andrew Fiateide called on the community folks and all Nigerians, including the government, to take the disease seriously as it can lead to cancer of the liver.

He said hepatitis A can be contracted through the mouth, faeces, and through contaminated food, warning that Nigerians should be careful about patronizing food vendors who hawk in the streets.

He said that hepatitis B, which is more deadly than A, can be contracted through blood and bodily fluids, advising that people should always seek medical advice.

He added that, from the tests carried out, they discovered that some of the community folks had low blood pressure, high and low sugar levels, malaria and hepatitis, but also said that the risk of HIV in the community is very low as no case of HIV was recorded.

Meanwhile, the Paramount Ruler of Ulemon Community, Chief John Erhenhi, has stressed the need for the programme to be held regularly in the community.

Chief John Erhenhi, while thanking New Horizons Aid and Development Initiative for the programme, stressed the need for the NGO to collaborate more with the government – to see how the health outreach can be carried out weekly, as he said that most of the residents cannot afford drugs when they are sick.

He said that many of the people are ignorant of hepatitis, but that the programme has also helped them to know their blood pressure and sugar level. He added that it is not very easy for people to see the doctor because of expenses, saying that the outreach has greatly helped those in urgent need of medical attention.

Our correspondent reports that the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, was represented by the Director of Press of the Ministry, Mr. Gondo Mathias, while the Oba of Benin also sent his representative. The CEO of New Horizons Aid and Development Initiative, Mrs Ebi Owoubiri Ogbe, was represented by Dr. Andrew Fiateide.