By Patrick Ochei
The Issele Association of North America (IANA), comprising of Issele-Uku, Issele-Azagba and Issele-Mkpitime has commenced its annual free medical and surgical outreach in earnest at the St. Theresa’s Maternity and Hospital, Issele-Uku on Friday 4th April, 2025.
The mammoth crowd that gathered to receive the free medical attention was addressed by the President of IANA, Dr. Igwebuike Nwaesei in company of other members of the Association who volunteered to be in Nigeria for the purpose.
Dr. Nwaesei said it was important for the information concerning the outreach to be given before treatment is administered, adding that “medicine is not all about drug taking but the information that follows to guide patients”.
He maintained that the free medical and surgical outreach has almost become a yearly affair, stressing that it is a policy of the Association to continue to raise funds to support projects at home, especially as they concern the health of the people.
In his evaluation of the agenda of IANA, the Vice President, Mr. Nnamdi Ozoma affirmed that there is a huge deficit in health service deliveries back home, and as such, it has formed one of the core policy community efforts of the Association in America.
He stressed that aside from other key project areas usually embarked upon by IANA, like the rehabilitation and provision of water and sanitary facility projects in schools across the three Isseles, the Association had taken formidable steps in aggressively addressing the issues bordering on the health of indigenes annually.
Ozoma therefore, advised for regular check-ups of one’s health status, especially the eye, to avoid imminent and sudden shutdown.
The medical programme is being managed by the Anioma Medical Professionals Forum (AMPF), headed by Dr. Alexander Chidubem Awunor.
Dr. Awunor had earlier while addressing the patients on the rules of engagement, commended IANA leadership for always thinking it wise to respond to the health needs of their people annually.
He said the 2025 edition of the medical mission is massive and it can only be done by a people with Godly inclination to community development and human survival to embark on such non-profit oriented monumental project.
It is interesting to note that apart from a variety of areas of medical services to render to patients, the medical team would be carrying out minor surgeries and dispensing of eye lenses. However, for those that would be recommended for cataract and glaucoma surgeries, the operation would be carried out at specialized hospitals, including UBTH.
