Mary Okpalaume, Sapele
The management of Okparavero Memorial Hospital, Sapele Delta State has commenced a five day free medical treatment for women and children in Sapele metropolis in remembrance of the founder of the hospital, Late Chief Dr. Godwin O. Okparavero.
The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Mrs. Eseoghene Agbatutu, who briefed newsmen said the event is held to mark the sixth anniversary of their late father who died on June 17, 2009, as a means of giving back to the society adding that this year’s event is targeted at women and children.
According to her, “This is the fourth year and we have a target for each year. Last year we focused on women and children and this year again we are focusing on women and children. So the aim is to keep his memory alive because he was a giver and as a family we intend to do that. Okparavero Memorial Hospital is giving back to Sapele and its environs the best way we know how, by giving free medical treatment to women and children.”
Dr. Agbatutu disclosed that they are focusing mainly on women and children because the Late Chief Okparavero was a gynecologist who had passion for women.
“We know that if the women and children are healthy, then the men will be fine. So if we focus on the women and children we will take a lot of stress off the men.”
She commended friends and partners including pharmaceutical companies, pharmacies and medical personnel who have helped to sustain the event over the past four years through donations and medical expertise promising that the programme would be held annually.
One of the facilitators of the event, Dr. Chijioke Kaduru from Corona Management Services, Abuja who is also a health policy expert said the free medical programme is fulfilling as it “is a good way of showing what our father represented by giving back to the society.”
He however encouraged people to maximize the free services the hospital has provided and as much as possible seek out medical services when they are ill saying that Sapele will be a healthier community.
One of the respondents, Mrs. Onyinye Umeh who spoke to this reporter commended the hospital management for their gesture appealing that such free medical programmes should be sustained to keep the memory of the Late Chief Okparavero alive.
The Okparavero Memorial Hospital free medical treatment commenced on Monday, June 15 and will run through Friday, June 19 2015. as at the time of filing this report, specialists from various medical fields have treated over 700 people with various diseases including malaria, upper respiratory tract infection, hypertension, diabetics , peptic ulcer, ENT and eye diseases among others.
