NGO conducts free surgery on 300 indigent patients at FETHA

NGO conducts free surgery on 300 indigent patients at FETHA
By Chukwuemeka Opara
Surgery
Abakaliki, June 7, 2018 (NAN) The TY Danjuma Foundation, an NGO, on Thursday begun providing its free surgery on 300 indigent patients at the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (FETHA).
Mr Gima Forje, Grants and Partnership Officer of the foundation, said during the occasion that it intended to accommodate more patients, but was restrained by resources.
“We know that the needs on ground are by far greater than the resources of a private foundation such as ours can handle, but with the support of all we would surmount the challenges.
“We started engaging the Ebonyi Government and FETHA from November 2017 on how to execute the intervention and are happy that the engagement has led to this flag-off,” he said.
Forje said that the free surgical mission was conceived in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) with discussions commencing in October 2017.
“We intended to learn from the Rapid Response Initiative (RRI) of FMoH in 2015 and to identify a suitable state for the foundation to implement free surgical mission for indigent patients.
“Ebonyi and FETHA were identified for the free surgical mission based on available evidence on access to quality healthcare in the state and FETHA’s performance on RRI.
“The foundation’s core values are hinged on a tripod of informed and responsive grant-making based on community involvement and government participation,” he said.
He recalled that the foundation was established in 2009 with a vision to have a Nigeria where everyone would have access to affordable, quality healthcare, education and opportunities to realise their ambitions.
“We have since inception awarded more than N2.5 billion for the implementation of over 200 interventions across the country and support such in any state where there are needs that relates to our vision,” he said.
Dr Daniel Umezurike, the state Commissioner for Health, noted that the benefiting patients would be operated on five major diseases which include herniorrahphy (hernias) hydrocele, haemorroids (pile), Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) and cataract surgeries.
“The surgeries would be conducted on the patients free of charge as an additional 700 patients would benefit from free counselling to manage their conditions.
“We had a tripartite arrangement with FETHA and the TY Danjuma foundation on the modalities and went round the 13 local government areas to select the patients suffering from such diseases,” he added.
Gov. David Umahi represented by his Deputy, Dr Kelechi Igwe, thanked the foundation for the gesture, noting that its founder has proven that he is a detribalised Nigerian.
“Ebonyi could not have been among the states to benefit from the intervention if Gen. Theophilus Danjuma does not believe in Nigeria’s unity.
“The state governor has removed the dichotomy between state and Federal Government owned institutions as he believes that his people are the direct beneficiaries of services provided by both institutions,” he said.
Dr Emeka Ogah, Chief Medical Director (CMD) of FETHA, noted that the intervention would assist the hospital in rendering quality healthcare services to the people.
Mrs Jane Anyigor, one of the benefiting patients, also commended the foundation and FETHA for the intervention, saying that it has restored her hopes of living since battling with her debilitating disease. (NAN)
RCO/MUYI/MST
Edited by Muhyideen Jimoh/Muhammad Suleiman Tola