The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Sen. Seriake Dickson, has endorsed the party’s Medical Missions and Mobilisation Support Group to commence nationwide healthcare outreaches.
Dickson gave the endorsement when members of the group met with him in Abuja on Friday to present the initiative’s vision, objectives and plans for reaching underserved communities.
The initiative, pioneered by Dr Patrick Ezie, a House of Representatives aspirant in the FCT, is designed to combine free medical services with grassroots community engagement across the country.
The group comprises medical professionals, healthcare practitioners, volunteers, party members and other Nigerians committed to supporting healthcare delivery in underserved and hard-to-reach communities.
Under the programme, the group plans to organise free medical outreaches that will provide basic healthcare services, health education, disease prevention activities and other forms of community support.
The organisers said the initiative was conceived against the backdrop of healthcare challenges confronting many Nigerians, especially people living in communities with limited access to healthcare services.
They said taking basic medical services directly to communities would help create opportunities for early health interventions, awareness and preventive care.
Beyond medical services, the group plans to use the outreaches as a platform for sustained interaction with communities and to promote grassroots participation in the activities of the NDC.
It also intends to establish state and zonal structures through which volunteers, healthcare workers and other participants would coordinate activities and sustain engagement with communities.
Ezie, the convener, said the initiative aimed to reach more than 100 million Nigerians across the country through medical missions and other community-based interventions.
He said the objective was to ensure that Nigerians, especially those in underserved communities, began to experience the dividends of democracy through practical interventions that addressed their immediate needs.
Ezie expressed concern over Nigeria’s maternal and child mortality burden, citing a maternal mortality rate of 1,000 deaths per 100,000 live births and an under-five mortality rate of 115 deaths per 1,000 live births.
He also cited the claim that Nigeria accounts for about 30 per cent of maternal deaths globally, saying the figures underscored the need for greater attention to healthcare delivery at the grassroots.
According to him, the medical missions will focus not only on treating illnesses but also on preventive healthcare, health education and creating awareness about practices that could improve community health outcomes.
He said the initiative would provide an avenue for medical professionals and volunteers to contribute their expertise while bringing healthcare closer to people who might otherwise face difficulties accessing medical facilities.
The convener called on well-meaning Nigerians, healthcare professionals, organisations and other stakeholders to support the initiative and join efforts to provide aid and succour to vulnerable communities.
He said the success of the programme would depend on broad participation and collaboration among professionals, volunteers, community leaders and other stakeholders.
Members of the group said community service remained a practical avenue for engaging directly with Nigerians while addressing some of the challenges affecting their wellbeing.
They said the combination of medical intervention and community engagement would enable the group to identify some local needs and establish sustained relationships with communities.
The group said it would also use the programme to promote awareness of disease prevention, healthy practices and the importance of seeking medical attention when necessary.
Dickson’s endorsement, the group said, had provided the political backing required to move the initiative from the planning stage to implementation.
The group is expected to commence the coordination of its state and zonal structures ahead of the planned nationwide medical outreaches.
The organisers said the ultimate goal was to establish a nationwide network capable of delivering healthcare interventions while maintaining sustained grassroots engagement. (NAN)
