By VINCENT UJUMADU
AWKA – NO fewer than 12000 people in Anambra State have benefitted from the free medical scheme for rural communities of the state and funded by a philanthropist, Mr. Ferdinand Nwankwo.

The scheme, which is the phase four of the programme, is aimed at treating and supplying all required medication and follow-up care to about 12000 beneficiaries in each of the targetted six communities.

The communities are Enugwu-ukwu, Nimo, Nawgwu, Adazi-Enu, Agulu and Ukwulu which are in Njikoka, Anaocha and Dunukofia local government areas.

Services rendered during the programme include eye checks, visual acuity test, reading test, free reading glasses, and free cataract surgery.

Others are free pterygium surgery, eye care talks, free diabetes screening and referral, free teeth polishing, free dental extraction/surgeries, as well as free oral hygiene talks and free blood pressure screening and referrals

Sponsor of the scheme, Mr. Nwankwo, urged the people to utilize the opportunity of the scheme to get the medical attention they required.

He prayed for their quick recovery so as to contribute maximally to nation- building and improvement in their personal welfare.

Nwankwo, who is contesting the House of Representatives for the area in the April 2011 election, assured the people that the scheme would continue even after the elections.

Leader of the medical team, Dr. Jema Ibeh, identified cataract and glaucoma as high rate ailments, and blamed it on age, sun-ray, smoke and lack of easy access to medical attention.

He cautioned the people to seek early medical aid and avoid self-medication.