The United States – based Nigerian health professionals comprising medical doctors, nurses, and pharmacists on medical mission in Abia State said they would be quarantined for 21 days for Ebola virus when they returned to the US.
Leader of the 75- man team and the National President of Abia State Nationals Association of North America , Dr. Christian Ike disclosed this at a press conference in Umuahia after the teams’s one week free medical services in Abia State.
He decried the stigmatization of Ebola – infested countries by the West, wondering why visitors to Nigeria would still be isolated even when the country has been certified “Ebola – free.”
Dr. Ike said members of the team who are Abia indigenes and health experts made a lot of sacrifices to sponsor the medical mission but noted that their passion for the people was their driving force.
He said the gesture was part of their contribution towards the development of the state and to complement the efforts of the state government in the health sector.
Dr. Ike said the team had committed over $420,000 on drugs alone besides transport fare, accommodation and other logistics, adding that all members of the team comprising 24 doctors, 21 pharmacists , and 30 nurses were all volunteers.
His words, “Our joy is that we are privileged to be at the giving end, and we want our people to have access to quality medical care.”
Dr. Ike said over 6200 patients diagnosed with various ailments received treatments at the exercise while 74 surgeries were conducted.
According to him , malaria, diabetes , high blood pressure and eye-related problems were discovered to be the commonest of the cases they handled.
He decried the high rate of these killer diseases especially diabetes and high blood pressure which he said were discovered to be common even among youths, and called for improved diets and regular medical check – ups as a remedy.
” People should reduce their intake of starch and eat more of fruits,” he advised.
Ike said that the team also disclosed to the patients the names of drugs prescribed for them and gave them instructions on local hospitals to go for follow-up treatments.
The Atlanta Georgia- based Pharmacist said the association had initiated talks with the state government for some health facilities in the state to be taken over and run by medical experts of Abia origin based overseas so that the people could be offered the kind of medical services equivalent to what is obtainable abroad.
He lauded the efforts of government in the health sector but called for more expansion and improvement on the available facilities and access roads to hospitals.
The team which grouped itself into three for wider coverage, conducted services at well publicised and strategic hospitals and public institutions at all three senatorial districts in the state. It also extended the gesture to the state’s police command.
US to quarantine Nigerian doctors on medical mission
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