By Nna Anulumadu
In a bid to mark 2024 World Health day, Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) Onitsha Archdiocese last Saturday provided a free medical test and drugs for the aged and pregnant women in our society.
The free medical test and distribution of free drugs to public especially the aged one and pregnant women took place at St Anthony of Padua parish Nkpor Agu.
The JDPC director Onitsha Archdiocese Rev Fr Edwin Udoye who spoke to Trinitas Newspaper correspondent described the exercise as part of JDPC efforts to observe the World Health day, disclosing that the commission saw the need to assist the public to know their health status and conditions since cases of slumping and sudden death are on the increase. He stated that large number of people who came for the free medical test had the opportunity to access blood sugar, Blood pressure , cholesterol, tuberculosis and bruneli Ulcer tests as many of them who needed medication were given instant drugs while those diagnosed with bad cases were referred to good hospitals for adequate attention.
He urged the public to form the habit of going for medical check ups in order to tackle any potential sickness that may cripple them in future, reminding them the theme of the programme which says ‘ my health, my right’.
The director disclosed that the choice of the venue ( St Anthony’s Parish Nkpor) for the exercise was made because of the commendable support the Parish priest Fr Tony Chukwu use to give to the commission, describing him as a man of large heart.
He further stated that apart from the yearly free medical test and drugs, the commission is constantly pushing the public out of poverty by assisting them in so many ways including growing business, establishing farming, small scale industries etc.
One the medical team at the exercise Mrs Njideka Okpala in her contribution praised the efforts of JDPC in the area of giving health to the public, asserting that so many people who cannot afford to visit hospital due to financial problem got medical attention that day, adding that the commission is really saving people’s lives.
Also, the chairman JDPC Dunukofia region Mr John Iwuanyanwu who spoke to Trinitas expressed satisfaction over the programme, describing it as timely and sacrosanct. He rained accolades on the director Fr Udoye for his selfless sacrifices and services to humanity through JDPC, testifying that so many lives have been transformed and saved by the commission.
Some of the beneficiaries including Mr Benson Ukoh and Mrs Obiageli Ofiah extolled JDPC for giving them the opportunity to have free test and free drugs, describing the gesture as mission to save lives. Mr Ukoh who is at his early 70s personally confessed that he has not checked his Blood pressure for the past nine months but had the opportunity to do the test same day.
