INTRODUCTION

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The Second Quarter NAS Medical Mission which is part of the programme of activities lined up for the NAS Quarter 2 PWC 2019/2020 Short Legged Sayle, holds in Okpanam community on Friday 31st January, 2020 @ Comprehensive Health Centre, Ogbe-Obi quarters, Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria.

THE LOCATION

Okpanam is located in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State. Its geographical coordinates are 6014’0” North, 6039’0” East. In it, there are four quarters including Obodogba, Ogbe-Uzoma, Amachia, Obodo-Ogwugwu with numerous villages. It is bordered by Asaba and Ugbolu, a vassal subject to Okpanam to the East, Igbuzo (Ibusa) and Ogwashi-ukuto the south, Iselle Azagba and Azagba Ogwashi to the West and Akwukwu Igbo, Atuma and the River Niger to the North. The Comprehensive Health Centre is 24km from Asaba metropolis and 18km from the nearest Tertiary Health facility.

SCOPE OF MISSION

The NAS scoping mission team which comprised of the NAS-Health and Safety Advocacy Committee (HESAC) Chairman, Victor Amaechi Onwu, Vito Corsica Deck State Chairman, Vito Corsica Deck Health Coordinator, Vito Corsica Deck Vice Chairman and the Q2 NAS-PWC LOC Chairman conducted a scoping mission in preparation for the NAS Medical Outreach to Okpanam community on 14th December 2019; 27th December 2019 and 3rd January, 2020 respectively. Okpanam is estimated to house about 110,000 persons.

THE PEOPLE

Okpanam community consists of both indigenous and non-indigenous residents who are mainly civil servants and farmers; the team paid an advocacy visit to the traditional leaders, HRM Michael Mbanefo Ogbolu, the Ugoani of Okpanam and HRM Martha Dunkwu, the Omu of Okpanam. They were accommodating and showed a willingness to support and ensure that the NAS Medical outreach had a large turnout of beneficiaries by promising to assist in mobilizing the community for the outreach. They also made promises to be present on the day of the mission.

THE SUPPORT

The 2nd Quarter PWC, NAS Medical Mission is being done in collaboration with the Delta State Primary Health Care Development Agency. The Oshimili North Local Government Area Primary Health Care, Executive Secretary – Dr.Victor Ajudua and the Oshimili North Local Government Area, Chairman – Mr Louis Ndukwe welcomed and applauded the choice of the community for the free Medical outreach and pledged collaboration via manpower support from the Local Government Area Health facility staff. The Scoping mission team during the visit to the Comprehensive Health Centre, Ogbe – Obi quarters, Okpanam were warmly received by the Officer in Charge of the facility – Mrs Otiono Margaret, a Chief Nursing Officer.

PREVALENT CASES

The scoping mission visit to Comprehensive Health Centre, Okpanam revealed the prevalent health problems include cases of malaria, hypertension, diabetes, low back pain, dental, eye problems, helminthiasis, and diarrhoeal diseases also included in their services are the child and maternal health care interventions like immunization and antenatal care. The Health Centre has an NGO that provides anti-malaria medications for them.

OUR MISSION

The 2nd Quarter PWC-NAS Medical Mission in Okpanam community is expected to offer screening for free medical consultation, general medical examination and testing for all ages. The mission will also include free ophthalmic services, laboratory services and others which will be conducted by a crop of qualified medical experts of the Association.

NAS Medical Mission which is the health charity arm driving the NAS Medical interventions as part of its Humanistic Ideals.

Newly diagnosed patients with serious ailments will be referred for follow up through the Comprehensive Health Centre, Ogbe-Obi, Okpanam.

CONCLUSION

As part of our expectation, we believe that this little intervention will by no small means impact positively on the life and health indices of the good people of Okpanam community. This drive by the National Association of Seadogs is part of its core Humanistic values in ensuring that the weak and less privileged in the society are cared for via our charitable interventions.