PAMO Teaching Hospital provides free medical care to 377 patients in Port Harcourt

• …embarks on two-day free treatment, surgery

No fewer than 377 persons benefited from a two-day free medical outreach organised by PAMO University Teaching Hospital in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The exercise, held on Wednesday and Thursday, formed part of the hospital’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative to support its host state and Nigerians at large.

Healthcare seekers from within and outside Rivers State received free treatment for general and paediatric surgical conditions.

Many beneficiaries praised the hospital’s gesture. Festus Egbe, 52, who had suffered from hynea for 15 years, said, “I was treated for Hynea. This is a very good initiative to touch the society. It was a very serious matter for me. I was in great pain at the time I ran into the flyer. I came from Abuja to visit my family here in Port Harcourt. When I called the number on the flyer, the Doctor asked me to come over, and that was it.

“I have managed this situation for 15 years, but since the surgery yesterday (Wednesday), I am feeling strong, I am getting better, and I am very grateful to the initiators of this exercise. It is really touching lives, and I wish to call on well-meaning Nigerians to contribute to this gesture so that it can be sustained, and I pledge to be part of it, God willing.”

Also expressing her gratitude, 46-year-old widow Favour Mbade, who underwent colon cancer-related surgery-induced hynea, said, “I had a surgery in 2023, a colon cancer surgery. It was a major surgery that resulted in this. I actually went back to the hospital where I did the surgery before, and I asked if there was a way forward. They told me I will pay over N1 million to do the operation. So this one came free, what more can I say? Thank you so much, PAMO hospital.”

Dr. Akaninyene Uboma, Coordinator of Clinical Services at PAMO Teaching Hospital, briefed journalists on the outreach. A Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, he said, “Over 380 patients were meticulously passed through the due process of patient consultation, investigation, prescription, and treatment, usual with healthcare delivery, but all for free.”

He added, “This exercise is the initiative of Dr. Odili to bring succour to sick indigents in the society, to grant them a healthy and happy Christmas and New Year celebration. The essence is to reach out to hundreds and thousands of indigent Nigerians who are finding it difficult to access healthcare delivery services due to the high cost of disease treatments in healthcare delivery facilities. Twelve categories of surgeries, general and paediatric surgeries, were carried out, including breast lump, eye surgery and treatment, appendectomy, amongst others.”

Uboma also highlighted the broader mission of the hospital, stating, “Nigeria and Nigerians have a significant burden of disease from infectious diseases to chronic non-communicable diseases. At the same time, there is a high level of poverty in the country. So people are sick, and at the same time, they are poor. They are not able to access healthcare. It is in recognizing this problem that His Excellency Sir (Dr.) Peter Odili established this hospital.

“The radiological investigations, CT scan, MRI, and ultrasound, cost just enough money to maintain the machines. So for him, this is not about profit. It is about providing world-class healthcare to both the poor and rich, male and female, at an affordable cost. In fact, even before this outreach, just three months ago, he instructed that all treatment fees should be slashed by 50%.”

Dr. Uboma noted that beneficiaries cut across men, women, and children who had lived with medical and surgical conditions for some time, underscoring the hospital’s commitment to accessible and affordable healthcare for all.