Ibom Developers FZE Conducts Free Medical Outreach in Eastern Obolo Communities

Ikonta and Obianga Communities in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State, last week, witnessed a significant healthcare outreach intervention as Ibom Developers FZE organised a two-day medical camp at the Ikonta-Obianga Health Centre.

The outreach, which commenced with a health talk and counselling on healthy living, brought much-needed medical services to the Eastern Obolo island communities, where access to organized healthcare has been a long-standing challenge.

Hon. Loveday Lambert, a prominent stakeholder from Ikonta Eastern Obolo, and beneficiary, expressed deep gratitude for the initiative, noting that it was a timely intervention for the community.

“I appreciate Ibom Developers for this initiative because this is one of those things we need in this community. You can see the health centre is not functioning well. We are grateful. I hope this can come from time to time to help people. This outreach will help the people living on this island”, Lambert said.

He emphasised the difficulty of accessing medical care for the residents of Ikonta-Obianga due to the community’s isolated location, saying “as you can see, almost everybody here is sick, but to go out of this community is a serious problem”.

He further pointed out the significant distance to the nearest health centres, with the closest being located at Okoroete, the headquarters of Eastern Obolo Local Government Area, which is an hour’s journey by boat.

“The next closest option is at Ikot Abasi, which also requires a long boat ride. So, we are very grateful, and we need this very often,” he added.

Dr. Comfort Eno, the lead doctor for the outreach, shared insights into the prevailing health issues in the community.

“For this two-day medical outreach organised by Ibom Developers, most conditions are hypertension, skin infections, and malaria. For these different conditions, we have free drugs, free laboratory tests, and others for them.

“It is not just about the drugs and medications; the pre-commencement counselling to create awareness of their health and hygiene is also critical. This outreach is timely and unique. Lives are being saved through this outreach”.

Grace Inyang, the Community Development Programme (CDP) Manager for Ibom Developers FZE, highlighted the scope of the outreach and the reasons behind its focus on specific health conditions.

“We are here in Ikonta and Obianga Communities to carry out a medical programme that cuts across children, adults, males, and females. When we look at this terrain, it is mostly waterlogged, making us prone to malaria.

“Because of this, we are treating malaria, cough, typhoid, scabies, hypertension, and other related issues. These seem to be prevalent in this part of the Local Government Area,” she said.

Inyang expressed satisfaction with the community’s turnout, which she described as “very impressive,” noting that over 800 people, including adults, children, and women, had benefitted from the programme.

“The treatment will go a long way in the sense that we are offering malaria treatment that should last for at least the next three months, meaning they shouldn’t need to visit the hospital during this period.

“We are also giving them blood tonics, which will enable them to function well. It will go a long way to impact families, as you can imagine treating the father, mother, and children. In a great measure, it has helped the family,” she added.

Residents of Ikonta and Obianga, who have long faced difficulties in accessing medical care due to the community’s remote location, welcomed the initiative with enthusiasm.

Many beneficiaries commended Ibom Developers FZE for bringing healthcare directly to their doorstep and expressed hopes that similar interventions would become regular occurrences, improving the overall health conditions of the people.

The two-day outreach has not only provided immediate medical relief but also highlighted the urgent need for more permanent healthcare solutions in isolated communities like Ikonta and Obianga.

With the success of this initiative, it is hoped that future interventions will continue to address the critical healthcare needs of residents in the area.