MICN collaborates with Tompolo Foundation, Tantita, others for improved Medicare for riverine dwellers

There's no gainsaying the fact that access to medicare is a recurring issue to dwellers of the riverine communities across the Niger Delta region, who courtesy of their locations lacked hospitals including health centres and often have to rely heavily of traditional health attendants.

The situation has led concerned individuals, Non-profit organizations and institutions embarking on various medical missions with a view to ameliorating the situation.

One of such efforts, and part of its Corporate Social Responsibilities, led a non-governmental organization, Moms and Infants Care Network (MICN) to collaborate with the Public Health Department of the Delta State Ministry of Health, Tantita Security Services Limited, Esther Mathew Tonlagha Foundation, and Tompolo Foundation to conduct a Two-day free medical mission to Okerenkoko Federated Communities of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

The Two-Day exercise featured medical screenings, lectures for Traditional Birth Assistants, TBAs, with mothers, pregnant women, children and other community members benefiting  free treatment and diagnosis for all ailments to mark the Foundation's second anniversary.

This  medium gathered that after the intervention of Tompolo Foundation on the Okerenkoko Health Centre which they took over and run, rendering free medical services, surgeries and free drugs, not much has been going on at the centre.

The Health Centre, venue of the mission, is currently lacking staff and requisite attention to function optimally as it is one of the most visible medical centre in the whole area.

Speaking during the exercise, Founder of MICN, Dr. Praise Ebimaye Tangbe said, "I feel so excited because this is happening and a lot of the communities are here because they trusted us.

"This is our second annual event and we got a quite a number of persons that we never expected on this first day and we are so excited the community people trusted us and we will attend to everyone.

"As an Assistant Professor and a Researcher, my drive is to give back to my community and focus on reducing maternal and child deaths due limited resources and other social determinants of heath.

"I am from the riverine area where health care facilities, resources are limited, and that given me the zeal, the push to bring back to my community in order for us to provide quality maternity services to improve the health of women, children and the families as a whole." She said.

On the community Health Center where resources are limited, Dr. Praise revealed that MICN as an organization is partnering with the Delta State Ministry of Health, Tompolo Foundation, Tantita Security and EMT Tonlagha Foundation, and all relevant authorities to have more staff for it to be working effectively.

"We will partner with them, we are working with other organizations for us to put facilities,medical instruments in the health care facilities for it to be working very fine and that is one step forward for us to partner with the health center." She noted.

On her part, the Reproductive Health Manager, Dr. Weyinmi Francis from the Delta State Ministry of Health, said, "We are here collaborating with the MICN with regards to the offering of medical services to Mother and Child implementation strategies.

"They are training TBAs as well as well providing general medical which includes, TB, malaria, HIV testing, cervical cancer screening, fibroid surgery and the rest of them.

"While we commend the Moms and Infants Care Network, for their laudable gestures and we hope to continue this partnership with them in the near future as well as other organizations to come and help the communities as non governmental organizations.

"The government cannot do everything and we hope this would be an exemplary activities to show other people that they can come out to provide health interventions especially in areas like this that are hard to reach." She stated.

On the community Health Centred, Dr Weyinmi Francis assured that State Commissioner of Health is very much interested in ensuring that all facilities are fully equipped as more hands would be provided."

Beneficiaries from the communities who spoke commended Moms and Infants Care Network, MICN, for rendering free medical services to them as treatment and drugs given to them would serve them a long way.

A pregnant beneficiary, Mrs Victoria Ayaseide said "Today we are grateful to the organizers of this free medical services to us and myself in particular.

"The last time I went to one of the hospitals for scan, I spent over N70,000 aside my transportation to Warri, but when I came here, they did a free test, scan, gave free drugs, mosquito net, and pampers. They even gave us food to eat while they were attending to us."

The Delta State Government led by Sheriff Oborevwori since coming on board has made several efforts in ensuring that Deltans get maximum benefits from his MORE Agenda campaign promise, including the health Sector.