By Emeka Chiaghanam
There was joy, relief and long queues of hopeful residents
across parts of Awka in Anambra State as members of the Awka Union USA/Canada
rolled out another round of free medical services for people in the community
and nearby areas.
The large-scale medical outreach, now in its fifth edition,
attracted no fewer than 3,000 beneficiaries made up of both indigenes and
non-indigenes who turned up for treatment, drugs and health checks at different
locations across the town.
From elderly men struggling with failing eyesight to mothers
seeking treatment for high blood pressure and malaria, the atmosphere around
the medical centres was filled with gratitude as residents received care many
said they could not ordinarily afford.
The outreach, which began on 11 May 2026, moved through
several centres including Umuzocha, Ndichie Hall in Umudioka, Ezi Umuanaga
Village in Agulu Quarters, Umuokpu Village Hall and the Manari Osonwa Free
Clinic located at Obodjezi in Obunagu Village, Amikwo Quarter. The exercise is
expected to end on 15 May.
Speaking to journalists during the programme, the
President-General of Awka Union USA/Canada, Dr Anthony Nwobum, explained that
the medical mission remains one of the organisation’s major humanitarian
projects aimed at supporting the wellbeing of people back home.
He said the initiative was not sponsored by government or
outside agencies but entirely funded by members of the union living in the
United States and Canada.
According to him, members agreed during their annual
convention to continue contributing resources towards improving the lives of
people in Awka through healthcare and social support projects.
Dr Nwobum noted that the huge turnout at the centres showed
clearly that many families were struggling to access proper healthcare because
of rising medical costs and economic hardship.
He revealed that about 60 medical personnel were engaged for
the mission, adding that hundreds of patients had already received treatment as
the exercise continued.
Also speaking, the President of Awka Union USA/Canada,
Onyebuchi Mbonu, said different branches of the union abroad contributed funds
to make the programme successful as a way of giving back to their homeland.
He expressed concern over the poor state of healthcare
delivery in Nigeria, arguing that citizens living overseas were being forced to
step in because government had not done enough to meet the medical needs of
ordinary people.
“If healthcare services were working properly, we would not
be seeing this kind of crowd here,” he said while pointing at the large number
of residents waiting patiently for medical attention.
Mbonu added that the increasing number of people seeking
free treatment was a sign that many households could no longer cope with the
high cost of drugs, hospital bills and specialist care.
The Chairperson of the union, Dr Gloria Adigwe, described
the outreach as a direct effort to reduce hardship among vulnerable residents
by providing medical support free of charge.
She explained that patients were receiving different forms
of treatment including eye care services, eye tests, prescription glasses and
medications for illnesses such as diabetes, arthritis, stroke-related
conditions, malaria, body pains and high blood pressure.
Dr Adigwe recalled that the medical mission first started in
2017 and had steadily expanded over the years because of the growing demand for
affordable healthcare.
According to her, many residents who cannot afford expensive
hospital treatment or overseas medical care now depend heavily on programmes
such as this for survival and early diagnosis.
She urged governments at all levels in Nigeria to learn from
social healthcare systems abroad where poorer citizens are supported through
public health programmes designed to make treatment accessible.
“We believe it is better and cheaper to bring medical
services closer to our people here instead of waiting for them to travel abroad
in search of treatment,” she said.
The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Comrade
Chuks Nweke, also praised members of the diaspora union for remaining committed
to the welfare of the community despite living far away from home.
He said the yearly intervention had continued to improve
lives through access to quality drugs, better health awareness, improved
eyesight and financial relief for struggling families.
According to him, many residents save money they would have
spent on hospital visits because of the free services being offered during the
outreach.
Leading the medical team, Dr Tochukwu Uyanwune (nee Agbata) disclosed that
the healthcare mission involved a wide range of professionals including 12
doctors, 12 pharmacists, four optometrists, two radiographers, 14 nurses and 20
support staff.
The diaspora-based physician said the annual exercise
focuses not only on treatment but also on health education and preventive care
aimed at helping residents live healthier lives.
She appealed to government authorities to establish more
healthcare centres and strengthen medical services in rural and urban
communities to reduce the burden of chronic illnesses among citizens.
Meanwhile, community stakeholder Chief Kanayochukwu Obidigbo
described the outreach as highly impactful and praised the consistency of the
organisers in sustaining the programme over the years.
He said the huge crowd witnessed at the centres showed
clearly that healthcare remains one of the biggest needs facing many
communities.
“The number of people gathered here tells its own story,” he
said. “This programme deserves support and continuity because it is touching
lives directly.”
One of the beneficiaries, 78-year-old retiree Onuorah
Okafor, could not hide his appreciation after receiving treatment.
The elderly resident thanked the organisers for remembering
the poor and elderly through regular humanitarian assistance, saying many
people in the community depend on the programme for survival and medical help.
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