The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has flagged off at two centres in Yobe State free medical outreach for 2021 for the less privileged who need treatment for some medical conditions but could not afford the cost.
Lawan flagged off the event both at the Specialist Hospital Gashua on Saturday to cover three Local Government Areas (Bade, Jakusko and Yusufari) and also at the Federal Medical Center, Nguru on Sunday to cover the remaining three Local Government Areas (Nguru, Karasuwa and Machina) that make up the Yobe North Senatorial District.
Also, on Sunday, the Senate President flagged off free Mass Animal Vaccination for Cattle, Sheep and Goats at Gajammu village, Nguru.
The medical/surgical outreach and animal vaccination started in 2017 and have become an annual event.
The medical outreach includes free surgical screening, eye surgeries and eyeglasses, treatment for hernia, fibroids and other gynaecological related ailments.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony at the Gashua Center, the Senate President said the event, which was the fourth in the series, was part of his modest contributions to society.
Lawan said the Medical Outreach was organised jointly between his Foundation, Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan (SAIL) Foundation and Yobe State Ministry of Health, the Federal Ministry of Health and in partnership with medical doctors who are serving in the Specialist Hospital, Gashua and Federal Medical Center, Nguru.
Lawan said “in life, we are supposed to give back to society when we are privileged and when we are serving.
“I consider this as part of my little contributions to the society and this foundation(SAIL), by the Grace of God, will continue to do this even when I’m not serving.
“So it is my special way of saying that I know some people cannot afford the treatment especially the eyesight where surgeries are carried out, glasses are given and some treatment are also given to those who need treatment.
“Also we intervene in the area of fibroids, in the area of hernia and so on and so forth and I believe that this is an intervention that goes a long way in giving respite, in giving some reliefs to people who suffer from these ailments and most of these ailments are suffered by people who are not able to treat themselves because they lack the wherewithal to treat themselves.
“So we always feel that when we do this we are doing the right thing even though in a little way. This year by the Grace of God, being the fourth, we are going to see additional treatment for people who are suffering from the ailments that we are intervening.”
The Senate President challenged the medical outreach team to conduct researches to see which other ailments or diseases needed intervention next year.
“We don’t pray that people should have diseases but when it happens, let’s know which areas appear prevalent so that next year we can add to our areas of intervention by the Grace of God,” Lawan said.
The Senate President also announced a plan to construct an Intensive Care Unit at the Specialist Hospital Gashua next year so that the facility could be readily made available to those who would need it.
“We will do that because we believe there is a need for Intensive Care Unit so that when people are in need of it, they shouldn’t be left out and allowed to suffer,” Lawan said.
He also charged the medical team to do a constant follow up on the patients to determine the efficacy of the various interventions.
“These surgeries, for those that have already been treated, it’s an opportunity for us to also test on the efficacy of what we do. I have heard many stories of people who have gotten relief as a result of our Intervention.
“I pray that the level of efficacy if it is not 100 per cent, we should be aiming at that because it is not enough just to carry out the surgeries but after the surgeries, how many have recovered their sight and I’m sure many have recovered their sight but we should follow up on those we operated upon to see how they recuperate from the surgeries,” Lawan said.
Speaking on Sunday at the Federal Medical Center, Nguru, the Medical Director, Dr. Abubakar Muhammad Musa said several patients who are suffering from different types of diseases that require surgeries are expected to benefit from the medical intervention.
He said the programme covers three major surgical specialities: General Surgery, Gynaecology and Ophthalmology.
“I want to assure you that our team of qualified medical personnel are prepared and ready to offer the highest level of quality care to the patients all through till they fully recuperate.
“So far, nearly 75 per cent of the targeted surgeries have been done and the general mood is of happiness and satisfaction,” Dr Musa said.
Also while at Nguru, the Senate President commissioned a Skill Acquisition Center named after him and it was handed over to the management of the College of Education and Legal Studies, Nguru.
Just like the one commissioned in Gashua on Saturday, the Center which was facilitated by the Senate President was constructed by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals.
