Sunday August 16, 2026
www.thenewsdesk.ng
By Dennis UDOMA, Uyo
The Village Head of Ibekwe Akpanya in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Eteidung Boniface Ekanem, has commended the EMOIMEE Host Community Trust Fund for extending its free medical outreach to his community.
Ekanem, who expressed delight over the intervention, described the exercise as a “healing balm” for rural residents who often face difficulties accessing medical services because of distance and inadequate healthcare personnel.
Speaking during the two-day exercise at the Primary Health Centre, Ibekwe Akpanya, the traditional ruler said hundreds of residents, including men, women and children, had turned out to benefit from the programme.
He said, “For the two days since the exercise began in my community, we have had hundreds of people, young and old, men and women, suspending their businesses to come and receive free medical treatment courtesy of EMOIMEE Host Community Trust Fund.”
The village head noted that the intervention was not the first time the community had benefited from EMOIMEE’s healthcare initiatives, recalling that the Trust Fund had also donated medical equipment to the community’s health centre.
“I am excited that this is happening in my lifetime as the village head, and I believe the same thing is happening in other communities in Mkpat Enin,” he said.
He also commended the Medical Consultant to EMOIMEE, Professor Etete Peters, and members of the medical team for their professionalism and cordial relationship with patients throughout the exercise.
Meanwhile, hundreds of residents from Ibiaku Clan and neighbouring communities participated in the two-day medical outreach at Ibekwe Akpanya.
Statistics from the exercise for the two days indicated that 684 cases were attended to at the Primary Health Centre.
The breakdown showed that 173 patients Eye care received treatment, comprising one child and 172 adults, while the General Outpatient Department recorded 503 cases, including 168 children and 335 adults. Another eight surgical cases were handled during the intervention.
Declaring the exercise open earlier, the Executive Chairman of Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, Engr. Emmanuel Inyang, described the initiative as a welcome development, stressing that his administration placed a high premium on the health and wellbeing of residents.
Inyang said his commitment to healthcare delivery in the local government remained unwavering, noting that a healthy population was essential to sustainable development.
According to him, the outreach represented one of the practical benefits of contributions by oil companies operating in the area under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
He stressed the importance of ensuring that host communities derived direct benefits from the operations of companies within their environment.
The chairman commended the EMOIMEE Management Committee for taking free healthcare services closer to the people and urged residents to take advantage of the programme by presenting themselves for medical examinations and treatment according to the schedule for their respective clans.
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of EMOIMEE Host Community Trust Fund, represented by Chief Ulor Ante, described the free medical outreach as one of the organisation’s most important programmes.
He said the Trust Fund prioritised healthcare because of its desire to ensure that people in its host communities remained healthy and productive.
Ante explained that taking medical services directly to the communities was designed to reduce the burden of residents travelling long distances to access healthcare.
A representative of the Management Committee, Rev. Obot Ekanem, said the outreach was a comprehensive healthcare programme designed to promote healthy living and improve the standard of living of residents.
He disclosed that the exercise was the second free medical outreach organised by the Trust Fund in Mkpat Enin, adding that it formed part of several interventions supported by oil companies operating in the area.
Ekanem urged residents to take full advantage of the opportunity by presenting themselves for proper medical attention.
The Medical Consultant to EMOIMEE, Prof. Etete Peters, commended the Trust Fund for prioritising the health of the people, saying the outreach had provided an opportunity to offer medical assistance to residents across the four clans in Mkpat Enin.
Peters explained that the two-week intervention was structured as a comprehensive medical programme covering health education, paediatrics, surgery, optometry, drug provision and other essential healthcare services.
He urged residents to take the exercise seriously, cooperate with the medical team and encourage others to participate.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Emmanuel Akpan Michael of Ikot Mkpeye in Ikpa Ikono Clan, expressed appreciation to EMOIMEE and the medical team for the intervention.
Michael disclosed that he had suffered from (ailment withheld) for six years but lacked the financial resources to seek appropriate medical treatment.
He said the intervention had brought him much-needed relief, expressing hope that the Trust Fund would sustain the programme for the benefit of the less privileged.
The free medical intervention, which had taken turns at Ukpum Minya and Ibiaku Clans, has proceeded to Ikpa Ibom Clan, and is expected to conclude with Ikpa Ikono Clan in the coming days.
