It was a joyful moment for the people of Umuchima Community in Ideato South Local Government area of Imo state, South- East ,Nigeria , Wednesday, when people with various health challenges in the community and it’s neighbourhood received free medical services courtesy of the Rev. Fr. Theo Okpara primary healthcare foundation.
The colourful annual free medical outreach held at St.Thomas primary healthcare clinic, Umuduruonyiriagha Umuchima, featured free clinical consultation, general counselling, testing and treatment of different aliments, including eye examination and treatment.
The medical team attended to the people numbering over 500 on issues relating to malaria, typhoid, blood pressure BP checks, with free drugs, as well as presentation of medicated glasses to those with eye challenges.
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Fr. Okpara, a US- based Catholic priest of Orlu Diocese has been carrying out the gesture for the past three years through the foundation.
He said the gesture was part of his commitment towards giving back to his community.
Speaking with newsmen during the outreach which commenced with a holy Mass, Fr. Okpara, who is president of the foundation said, “this is a project we started in 2023 and it’s derive from my passion to help the people of my Community and neighborhood.
Rev Fr. Okpara
“As someone based abroad, whenever i return home, i do notice that people are suffering from a whole lot of health issues, and in most cases, they have little or nothing regarding finance to take care of themselves and I thought about what more I could do to ameliorate their sufferings or assist them.
“So, that was what led to the establishment of the ten- bedded, zero cost St. Thomas primary Healthcare Clinic, Umuduruonyiriagha, Umuchima in Ideato LGA, Imo state
He added that the health facility has been recording huge number of child deliveries since inception.
“Since the Clinic started, we have recorded over 85 percent deliverings which were all successful to the glory of God, and were all free of charge”
“The medical facility is open for services on daily basis for 24 hours with a resident Nurse who provides primary care services to people who come to seek medical attention”
According to Rev. Fr. (Dr) Okpara,” serious cases that are beyond the heath Centre are referred to higher hospitals. He stressed that the facility has continued to live up to expectation since it came into existence.
“To the glory of God, every year, we have this medical outreach and people from Umuchima and environ come around to receive treatment from Doctors and nurses, and also have their vitals properly checked by these professionals,” he said.
Continuing, Rev Fr Okpara said, “Last year, we had a total of 445 people who benefitted from the free medical exercise, and from the number of people that have arrived for treatment today, we are going to attend to more number than that of last year, because we are adding eye clinic in this year’s exercise.
“Optometricians, that is, eye Doctors would be on hand to attend to those with sight related challenges. We are doing this to the glory of God, and in addehenrance to Matthew chapter 25 verse 36, which says I was sick and you busted me”
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to newsmen, expressed appreciation to God for Fr. Okpara to attend to their health challenges. They prayed God to bless him so that he could sustain the foundation.
