Dr Okoronkwo Chita of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AE-FUTHA) has listed hunger, lack of care, diabetes, hypertension, high blood sugar, malaria among others the common problems in the communities caused by poverty.
Dr Chita, disclosed this in Enuagu Onicha, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State during a free medical outreach sponsored by a Non-governmental Organisation, Achieje Foundation.
Chita who is also a beneficiary of the NGO described the founder as a humble, kind and selfless man who is known for his selfless services in the community.
Chita said “the common findings here apart from the issue of deprivation that some people are hungry and don’t have people who can take care of them, some are unkept, they are hungry.
“Apart from that, we have the common problem of hypertension, diabetes. Some of the beneficiaries have diabetes and hypertension. We gave the treatment we could give and also encouraged them to go for further checkups in well-established hospitals. Some have malaria and we also gave them treatment for malaria because we were running tests for malaria, for diabetes and we were also checking blood pressure. We also checked their temperature, those who had a high temperature, we ran the malaria test on them. But for those who didn’t have that, we just did blood pressure and also blood sugar. So, some of them have been given treatment and also encouraged to further their treatments in other hospitals that are well established.
“Chief Okoronkwo Chita is my mentor and he is popularly known as Achieje. It is in his honour that we found this Achieje foundation. He is a very notable man, a humble man and a selfless man. He is known for selfless services, he is so kind. I am one of the beneficiaries of his philanthropy. He took me from the time I was in Primary School and I was living with him as a son. He trained me from Primary to University and ensured I became a Medical Doctor. He has also trained many others, he has been very helpful to the people of this community and outside this community.
“It is a good thing that we are honouring him today. He deserves the honour that is bestowed on him because he has done so much for people and for the first time, people have to remember him and give back honour to him whom honour is due. He is a retired civil servant. After serving as a Biafra Soldier, he started his civil service career at the end of the war in 1970. He went through most of the local governments in Eastern Nigeria. He retired as a Treasure and God has used him to lift many underprivileged people to greater heights. I am a Nephew to him, he is my father’s elder brother but he is a man that does not show a bond. He embraces all as one in his own family. People thought I was his first son, he took me as a first son, he did not deprive me of anything that a son should have. He catered for me so much and he took care of me,” he said.
Another beneficiary, Madam Roseline Ogah, said she has been in tears for a long as no one is taking care of her and commended the foundation for coming to her rescue.
“This foundation conducted free medical outreach free of charge and gave us free drugs. Achieje foundation has rescued most of us who don’t have helpers.
“I didn’t know that I will receive these gifts; a wrapper and a bag of rice from this foundation apart from the free medical test and treatment. I have been in tears because I don’t have anybody who carters for me but the Achieje foundation has wiped out my tears. I have been having suffering from hunger and general hardship but this foundation has alleviated my sufferings.
Another widow, Gloria Chukwu said all her wrappers are very old with most of them torn and commended the foundation for giving her a new wrapper.
She also said she had no food in her house before coming for the free medical outreach and did not expect any other thing from the NGO other than the free medical outreach and expressed surprise at the wrapper and the bag of rice she was also given by the foundation.
“Honestly speaking, I was just expecting medical treatment because of my sickness. I was having joint pains, headaches and fever. When I heard about the free medical services by this foundation, I decided that I must come because I don’t have money to go to the hospital. So, I came for this free medical outreach. They ran tests on me and gave me drugs which I have with me here.
“To my greatest surprise, this foundation also gave me a wrapper and a bag of rice. I didn’t have food before coming here but I am going home with food courtesy of this Achieje foundation. All my wrappers are old but I am going home with a new wrapper, a good one in that matter. So, I am very surprised by these gifts because I didn’t expect them, I only expected free medical service,” she stated.
Meanwhile, Chief Okoronkwo Chita, the founder of the NGO, promised to sustain the gesture and commended his children for establishing the foundation.
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