Underserved residents in Akwa Ibom communities under the Effiat and Mbo Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT) have hailed as “life-saving”, the ongoing health intervention launched in Effiat and Uda communities.

With the theme, “Bringing healthcare closer to the people”, the free health outreach, with funding from oil and gas player Oriental Energy Resources Limited, focuses on medical consultation, prostate and cervical cancer screenings, distribution of eyeglasses and deworming.

The five-day medical programme will also be extended to Ebughu, Ewang and Udesi, where teeming beneficiaries restrained by the high cost of treatment would take advantage of the free prostate and cervical cancer screenings and the other outreach area of interest.

Mrs Glory Ekpimah, who was screened for breast cancer, said, “I never thought we would have an opportunity like this in our lives to undergo a wide range of medical consultation as prostate and cervical cancer screenings. Today, that has been brought right here to our doorsteps. It’s a lifesaving experience “

Mr Itabana, a fisherman, said, “Some time ago, I developed eye problems. I woke up and discovered I cannot see well again, and all efforts yielded no results until today, when I received these eyeglasses free of charge.”

Ms Uduak Okon, another beneficiary in appreciation to the Trust, urged, “It will be heart-warming for us if a programme like this is sustained from year to year.”

At the opening day remarks, lawyer and Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Trust, Inam Okon, promised, “This is just the beginning. As long as we have the capacity, we plan to carry out these activities on an annual basis.

“We are also committed to doing more in other areas to further support and improve the well-being of our communities”

He announced the donation of medical equipment, including blood testing and grass cutting machines, to support operations and clean up the facility where the programme was launched.

“Anywhere we are doing an outreach, we leave a lasting impression. So this equipment is going to make an impact in the community”

Dr Uwem Ite, Head, Governmental and Community Relations, Oriental Energy Resources, emphasised, “You have to understand the Trust is set up not just for medical outreach; there are other things in that basket by law.

“There’s something on education where you have seen scholarship awards to students. There’s infrastructure where roads will be built, infrastructure in schools. So this medical outreach is just one of five different things the Trust is set up to do by law

“The law requires the setlor, Oriental Energy to provide funding every year for these activities. So as long as Oriental Energy produces oil and sells it, they will have to give money to the Trust to do what the Trust have to do by law”