The University of Port Harcourt Alumni Association Abuja Chapter, organized a fitness walk and medical outreach tagged ”Walk for Health”, WFH in collaboration with National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, NPHCDA on Saturday, June 10th, 2023 in Jahi 2 community, Abuja, as part of efforts to bring primary health care close to underserved communities.
Primary healthcare is the foundation of any country’s healthcare system. It is aimed to bring protective, preventive, and other health services closer to underserved communities within the available resources.
The outreach and fitness walk, aimed to create awareness on the prevention of hepatitis B, other communicable diseases and also administer free tests to community members.
According to the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), about six out of ten Nigerians lack access to quality primary healthcare services, a situation that is worsening disease outbreaks. Inadequate medical facilities, poverty, and ignorance are some of the factors responsible for the grim numbers.
of Jahi11 community
While addressing beneficiaries of the free testing, the Chapter President Phil Okoroafor, ‘appealed to the members of the community to take responsibility for their health after the outreach’.
She also tasked them to make healthy life choices such as, washing of hands, proper cooking of food, not sharing sharp objects to prevent the spread of Hepatitis and other diseases.
The Director, Community health Care Services, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Chris Elemuwa, commended the Alumni association for the determination in bringing health care closer to the people.
Elemuwa, also disclosed that cases detected after testing would be referred to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency’s referral centers.
He advised the people to seek medical attention from professionals when they are ill, as well as exercise regularly.
The event which held at the LEA primary school in Jahi 2 community, started with a fitness walk from the venue to the palace of the Chief of the community, Saliyu Adamu, who welcomed members of the association and thanked them for providing free medical care to members of the community who could not afford to pay for medical services.
From the Chief’s palace, members of the Alumni association, alongside villagers walked back to LEA primary school, the venue of the outreach where free medical services were administered by medical personnel of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHDA.
Other activities carried out at the outreach include; aerobics exercises, health talks, dancing competition, and light refreshment.
According to the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency NPHCDA, about six out of ten Nigerians lack access to quality primary healthcare services, a situation that is worsening disease outbreaks.
Story: Ihuoma Ukeje