A team of medical expatriates from the United States of America, Ghana and Nigeria are touring some selected undeserved rural communities in Gombe State with free medical care and palliatives.
The team which also comprises indigenous medical personnel and paramedics to support the foreign expatriates is led by Dr. Robert Lee Lawson from Texas, USA.
The one week long free medical outreach which began on Sunday and Monday 30th/31st October, 2023, in Nyuwar community in Balanga LGA, has rounded up in Komta, Billiri LGA on yesterday, 4th November, 2023.
According to Dr.Lawson, this is his sixth visit to Nigeria. He summed up his observation from the current visit on the third day of the tour saying, “there are a lot of health challenges in the rural areas, especially in the aspects of sanitation, clean water, lack of healthy food among others”.
He said, “We tried to bring some food in addition to the medical outreach to give some of them that need it the most, so that they can have nutritious food.
“We intend to treat as many as possible. We have itinerary for each day and we intend to leave food and medication for the nurses and doctors to help the people even when we have gone back”, he stressed.
Honourable Rambi, a former two term member of the State House of Assembly, also a facilitator of the free medical outreach, said apart from the timely free medicare service, the medical outreach team had also settled the medical bills of six snakebite patients at the Kaltungo Snakebite Hospital.
He explained that just after three days of the free medical outreach, the team had already met the medical needs of well over 500 persons with various health challenges. And they hope to cover much more in the remaining days.
He said, “The team has been coming in contact with people with serious health challenges and their intervention has been very timely. Grains will also be shared to those mostly in need as palliatives due to the current economic hardship.
“They also attended to eyesight challenges and others. They make referrals where necessary. It’s a complete team, some run tests, some are giving medical attention and we keep buying drugs”, he stated.
Speaking on the Primary Health Care Centre, Rambi said, “I conceptualised and gave a push while I was still in government. I had interest in the Fulani settlement that has been with us over the years.
Leader of the Fulani settlement in Kalindi, Alhaji Ade (Ardo Ade), expressed happiness with the provision of the health facility as well as the free medical outreach.
