As part of her efforts to provide medical care to the less privilege people of Plateau State, the Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Reng Ochekpe, has kicked start this year’s edition of her pet project, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Free Medical Outreach, in Langtang North and South of Plateau State.

Declaring the programme, which held from November 17 to 21, open at Jos University Teaching Hospital Comprehensive Health Centre in Zamko Langtang North Local Government Area, Ochekpe disclosed that the project was the fourth edition following similar exercises in Zaron, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Heipang State Polytechnic and Pankshin LGA of Plateau State.

As part of her efforts to provide medical care to the less privilege people of Plateau State, the Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Reng Ochekpe, has kicked start this year’s edition of her pet project, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Free Medical Outreach, in Langtang North and South of Plateau State.

Declaring the programme, which held from November 17 to 21, open at Jos University Teaching Hospital Comprehensive Health Centre in Zamko Langtang North Local Government Area, Ochekpe disclosed that the project was the fourth edition following similar exercises in Zaron, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Heipang State Polytechnic and Pankshin LGA of Plateau State.

Ochekpe, who expressed great satisfaction as the project got patronage in the three other places, said that she was motivated to extend the same to Langtang North and South Local Government Areas.

She explained that one of the objectives of taking free medical outreach to the doorsteps of the people is to complement the efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan, who is also doing well in the health sector.

She said: “I am conscious of the fact that many people in our rural areas do not have access to good medical care and are also not able to access it principally due to lack of finance or the inability to go to places to access the medical care. So we are bringing the free medical care in order to get closer to the grass root where they most needed it.”

A total number of 510 patients with various health challenges were attended to at the opening ceremony of the programme.

Out of this figure, 53 laboratory tests were conducted, 304 patients were attended to by general consultants and nine general surgeries were carried out successfully.

In her goodwill message, the Deputy Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Joyce Lohya, commended Ochekpe for taking the free medical care to the people.

Lohya stated that just as the people had seen and described her as Ambassador of President Goodluck Jonathan, Ochekpe should also be seen and described as a good ambassador of the state.

She stated: “You have not only delivered on your responsibility in ensuring improvement in water sector which is your Ministry’s mandate, but you have gone beyond that by providing free medical care to our people knowing full well that as water is life also good heath is wealth.”

Lohya thanked the Minister on behalf of the beneficiaries and the entire people of state and assured her that the State Government is aware of what she is doing.
She said: “We say thank you and your medical team; we are very grateful and proud of you as our own mother.”

The free medical outreach is a project sponsored by Ochekpe and friends, SCC Nigeria Limited, National Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with Urban Frontiers Mission International, Association of Resident Doctors, JUTH and Afri foundation.

Present at the opening ceremony were Hon. Exo Nandong Pyenap, member representing Langtang in the Plateau State House of Assembly; the Deputy Chairman, Langtang North, Jonah Chir Man; the Commissioner of Health, represented by Dr. Adeyinka Mathew, Dr. Katherine Uzoma; a US Project Care representative; and retired Colonel Dauda Nimmyel, the District Head of Pil-Gani.

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Ochekpe organizes free medical care programme in Plateau