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Pa Oluohu and daughter, Florence Oluohu, editor of Nigerian Chronicle
By Akpan David, Calabar
An 80-year-old, Pa Boniface Emmanuel Oga Oluohu has organised a free medical check up for members of his Utukpo-Okpame community in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State to mark his birthday.
The medical services were put together to celebrate Oluohu substantial supports from his children, prominent amongst them, editor of The Nigerian Chronicle, Florence Oluohu,
More than 500 senior citizens, youths and women, especially those who could not afford costs of medications and tests, benefitted from the medical diagnoses.
The diagnoses included free eye tests, blood pressure, blood sugar, and malaria tests.
People in the community came out as early as from 7am for the blood sugar test, till about 4pm when the last person was attended to.
The medical team referred a lot of cases to clinics and general hospitals for practical attention.
Florence Oluohu said, “We liaised with some friends for support, and with some in the health line for expertise. We chose three thematic areas: blood pressure, blood sugar, and malaria.
“For the first two, we could only do the check, not prescribe medication. However, where blood pressure was on the high or low side, referrals were made to the nearest health centres.”
She explained that the medics used the rapid testing kit, to do diagnosis and treatment administered.
About three hundred, made up of the young and old, had checked their blood pressure while 97, mostly the aged, checked their blood sugar level.
200 rapid testing kits were used. 108 tested positive for malaria and they were given medication
The medical team applied hot balms on age-related ailments and those with general body pain occasioned by the rigours of farm work.
One of the women beneficiaries in her late 60s, Madam Helena Odey commended Pa Oluohu for the initiative, saying it has helped them save lot of money and stress.
