September 2019

REPORT OF OGBONA ELITES FREE MEDICAL OUTREACH, HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN TEACHING HOSPITAL, (MCK ORBIH HEALTH CENTRE), OGBONA FROM 30TH AUGUST TO 1ST SEPTEMBER, 2019. The decision to have a second medical outreach was taken soon after the adjudged success of the maiden edition, in 2018. It was agreed at the admin level that the success of the previous one, captured in photographs should be summarized in a brochure form and leveraged as building blocks for sustainable advantage for this year’s edition and subsequent ones. Immediately, the President setup Health Committee, headed by Dr. Paulinus Abu with the following as members. Mrs. Kate Izuagie, Peter Aigba, Catherine Asapokhai, Philip Ogedegbe, Austin Mode, Stella Mode. The committee was mandated to organize a hitch free outreach with the least cost and less publicity. The committee was also told ab initio to do away with partnership with any other body or organization. Though fund was certain to a big factor, it was concluded the drive should be inward pronged. Consequently, the President also setup a fund-raising committee headed by John Anaweokhai. By May this year, the chairman of the Health committee fixed the date and gave the budget for the program and everybody went to work with the scope of the outreach restricted to the following area: 1. Pediatrics medical cases 2. Pediatrics surgical cases 3. Hypertension & Diabetes 4. Dental problems 5. Eye cases (surgical, medical and reading glasses) 6. Malaria, typhoid fever, etc. 7. Gynecological surgeries and medical problems 8. Geriatric problems 9. HIV, HERPATITIS Screening and counselling 10. Ante Natal Care 11. Surgical cases e.g. hernia, lipomas, appendectomy, etc. By Thursday, 29th August, 2019 almost everyone including the medical personnel were at home for the outreach and a brief meeting was held at the president’s house to fine-tune the program and tie up all the loose ends for a successful free medical outreach. Below is the list of the medical personnel that manned the outreach: 1. GOPD Consultation had 6 doctors (3 from UBTH Benin City and one from UBTH Ogbona) 2. Nine nurses from UBTH, Benin City 3. One Ophthalmologist and one Ophthalmic nurse 4. Two Dentist 5. Three Optometrists and Ophthalmologists 6. Two Pharmacist 7. One Doctor Chemical Pathologist 8. One laboratory Scientists and two laboratory technicians 9. Six General Surgeons and Gynecologists in the theatre with eleven post basic nurses from UBTH, Benin City 10. Others i.e. UBTH Ogbona staff, ward attendants, Cleaners, and some staff from Ogbona Maternity. Among the OEF Admins and Board of Trustees in attendance were: The Chairman Board of Trustees, Pst. Mrs. Julie Inu Umoru, Mr. Gilbert E. Odior, Mr. Bernard Ikhane, Mr. John Anaweokhai, Mr. Peter Aigba, Mr. Austin Mode and Mrs. Stella Mode. The program was declared open on Friday 30th August, 2019 at about 9:50 am with the welcome address delivered by The Okphe Ukpi of Ogbona, His Royal Highness, Chief William Idode with members of his council of chiefs in attendance. True to the desire of the planning committee, the opening ceremony was low-key and very brief with no other activity save for the welcome address by The Okphe Ukpi. OUTCOME Below is a summarized list of cases completed during the medical outreach. 1. Various kinds of dental surgeries—-110 2. Eye surgeries—39 3. Eye glasses given out are–506 4. Myomectomy (removal of huge fibroids) —4 5. One Caesarean Section/ delivery—1 6. One vaginal surgery to repair a prolapse urinary bladder through the vagina (Anterior Colporrhaphy) —1 7. Other surgeries done i.e. appendectomy, hernia repairs, lipomas removal and ganglion removals—104 8. Laboratory investigations done are—-215 9. Two pints of screened blood was given to the Caesarean Section patient as she was anaemic even before the surgery was done 10. Pharmacy prescription given are—-1812 INCOME & EXPENDITURE Although, sourcing funds was a major issue, at the end, we were able to generate over four million Naira, N4,000,000. Below is graphic presentation of income and expenditure table for the event.   OBSERVATIONS. One striking fact about this year’s medical outreach is the sense of orderliness that guided the comportments of all the patients that came for the outreach. Though, there were pockets of rowdiness, they were nonetheless controllable. It was also observed that outsiders who came for the program outnumbered Ogbona people. Again, there was increase in the number of Ogbona medical personnel involved in this year’s edition, made up of Dr. Paulinus Abu, Dr. Alexander Abu, Dr. Nelson Egwakhe, Dr. Samuel Omolua, Miss Josephine Egwakhe (Nurse) and Mr. Paul Obeakemhe, Medical Scientist. CHALLENGES. 1. Funds remains the number one challenge of our program. In fact, until the last moment, we were still sourcing for fund. 2. There is also the challenge of how to get Ogbona people to take full advantage of program as outsiders seem to get the upper hands against the people in whose interests the program was designed to meet in the first instance. 3. There was shortage of eye surgeon. In fact, there was no eye surgery until the second day. 4. On the whole, there are logistics problems as regards hosting the medical outreach in the heights of the rainy season as almost all the roads are impassable. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. It is recommended that subsequent medical outreach be held either later in the year or early in the year to avoid the challenges of plying Impassable roads in the height of rainy season. 2. It is also recommended that an advance team should be sent to Ogbona to get the list of people with critical conditions so the first day of the program can be reserved exclusively for them. 3. Every member of Ogbona Elites Forum should be encouraged to contribute towards the outreach. 4. Areas of shortage of medical experts should be identified early so that alternative arrangement can be made to cover up such shortfall. 5. More Ogbona medical personnel should be encouraged to liaise with Dr. Paulinus Abu to contribute their quota to the development of our community in