Enugu-USA Medical Mission on my mind
Ezejiofo Sunny Udeh
GRA,
Enugu
16th
November 2015
It was the beautiful summer of 2002 at the
usual Enugu-USA convention in Dallas, Texas under the glorious presidency of
Hon. Engr. Aloy Attah and Chairman of Board of Directors, Dr. M.O. Ene` that I
was introduced to the concept and idea of Medical Mission by a known quantity
in the person of Chief Hon. John Egbo, my fellow aspirant for the presidency of
Enugu-USA. It happened that our support
based for the election for many reasons merged and decided to explore ways for
cooperation instead of competition. Part
of the driving force to the eventual agreement was Medical Mission, which led
to Chief Egbo’s presidency and myself settling for National Secretary.
With a press release I
issued on December 3rd, 2002, Enugu-USA & Enugu-USA Medical
Mission Inc. started the now famous Medical Mission under the leadership of
President John Egbo. By so doing, Enugu-USA became, in deed, the very
first Diaspora Nigeria organization to embark on such popular program of mercy
that has directly and positively impacted and continue to impact the health of thousands
of our people at the ground zero.
With the support of the
contemporary and successive leaders, Hon. Chris Chukwu, Hon. Engr. Aloy Attah,
Hon. Dr. M.O. Ene, Hon. Afam Agwu, Hon. Dr. Jude Akubuilo, Hon. Oby Ebulu, Hon.
Prof. Uzochukwu, Chief Jones Okeke, Chief Bernard Ugwu, Chief Nweke, Hon. Dr.
Obiesie, Hon. Princess Chukwu, Chief John Agbo and the current President, Dr.
Sinachi Ugwuonye, Enugu-USA has supported and sustained the Medical Mission program,
provided medications, acquired and shipped several 40 feet containers of medical
supplies and continue to carry out the program in Enugu State till date.
Through Medical Mission
we have touched thousands of lives and changed them for better. We have
seen membership grow and number of volunteers triple. As of today, many
Diaspora organizations have organized Medical Mission of some sort to the
remotest part of Igbo land. Indeed, it is remarkable progress in the
realm of charitable work and mission of mercy and we ought to grow it as we
refine it, and bless it with spirit of continuity.
As we continue to
advance this cause, let me share with you some snap shots of the story of the
very first Medical Mission as documented on December 12. 2002 by Mr. Leo Aneke, a reporter with the Coal
City News who followed the medical mission team to all the visited
sites and recorded his observation of the activities……………………………..
“On the first day, the
feeling of excitement was real in all the members of the team knowing that the
novel philanthropic health care program for the less privileged is about to
begin. As in every first step in every organization, the team did not envisage
the volume and character of the needy people converged at Nkwo-Nike Health
Center, the first port of call. The people were made up of the elderly
men, women and children that trooped out to receive medical care; most of these
potential recipients presented themselves in care-worn faces with sunken eyes
which are the telltale signs of malnutrition and failing physical health.
Those with marked
deformity were very prominent. The overall picture of this motley crowd should
elicit tears from the eyes of whomever that has some sort of humanity left in
him. The emotional trauma did not however dissolve the iron cast resolve of the
medical mission team, which appears battle ready to meet the challenges of
disease and neglect head on. Getting into the bogus edifice that serves as the
consulting offices of the cottage Hospital, the team saw disuse written on the
walls. It appeared the cottage Hospital not been in use for the last twelve
months or there about………
The team arrived at the
second stop - Afia Nine, Ogui-Nike, and fell in the lap of waiting
patients. Their faces bore signs of concern and question marks. On
enquiry it was discovered that these poor folks had in the past been promised
one goodie or the other only for the benefactors to renege at the last minute.
The summary of it all remains that there was an urgent health care crisis in
the land. The people have become skeptical of government institutions.
Corruption walks tall in health institutions. Medicines and medicaments
disappear when they are provided.
On yet another stop,
the medical director, Dr. Sam Ngwu was handling a very bad case that demanded
some injection in place of surgery. It was the case of an elderly woman whose
knees were bandaged to hold back the jutting bones. The woman was in much pain.
On account of the darkness, Dr Ngwu elected to call at the woman's residence to
have her injected. The woman much elated agreed to the proposition.
Only one who is touched
with the suffering of humanity could touch some of the deformities and wounds
encountered by the Medical Mission team without fees yet here we are in the
midst of young men and women who thought it proper to spare their time and
resources for the less privileged, the wretched of the earth. If the
medical mission came to complement government effort, they were overwhelmed by
the lack of government involvement in the health care of the rural poor.
The Enugu-USA Medical Mission team left behind a smiling humanity that has
received the healing balm of love. Such gestures go a long way. It was for this
purpose that the Enugu Association USA Inc. put together the Enugu USA Medical
Mission. And so far the venture is touching thousands and thousands of lives of
the rural poor in Enugu State of Nigeria. They deserve commendations.”………..by Leo Aneke, CoalCityNews
As Enugu-USA continues
to work to help make a difference in lives of thousands and thousands of people
each year, every person afflicted with health problem and/or medical ailment
now has reason to hope that great efforts are being made by those of us
resident in the United States to expand and extend the Medical Mission
program—the mission of hope.
The people and
government of Enugu State have remained grateful to the extent that the son of
the soil, the pioneer Medical Mission Director, Hon. Dr. Sam Ngwu, you just read
about is now the Honorable Commissioner for Health in Enugu State. My commendation goes to His Excellency, the
people’s Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for reaching out for one of our
best and brightest and making it possible and for his government’s readiness
and willingness to support Enugu-USA despite the prevailing paucity of funds in
the state and country.
Moreover, it is good to
report that the capable team under the leadership of the able President, Dr.
Sinachi Ugwuonye the 2015 Medical Mission is poised to dwarf all previous missions
as arrangements have been laid out by the recent visit of the National
Secretary, Hon. Chuma Ojukwu who came to lay a solid foundation for seamless
extension of the program from MM to R.E.A.C.H – Reach Every Autonomous
Community and Household in Enugu State.
The opportunity Medical
Mission provides for us is still there whereby you can reach out from the
comfort of your Diaspora home and touch, make an immediate difference in the
life of a fellow human being through this beneficial and enduring program.
You can reach out and touch a sick person in Enugu State, Nigeria without
visiting home.
In fact, your
participation and support qualify you as a part and parcel of the historical
mission of mercy – Enugu-USA Medical Mission 2015. You can do it by a
paltry sum……a paltry sum when put together will boost our efforts and help us
achieve our goal. There is no better time to help than now. It is time to help us continue to do well.
It is the help you give today that would make the mission possible. Your help, above all will continue to place
Enugu-USA in the highest pedestal of charitable and philanthropist organizations
in United States and Nigeria.
Finally, Enugu-USA
Medical Mission Inc. is, indeed, a 501©3 charitable organization. All
donations are tax deductible. What started in 2002 December has blossomed
to a permanent program reaching every doorsteps of Enugu State. Therefore, as the fortunate few who are
enjoying the higher standard of living of USA, our roles and responsibility do
extend beyond the formal Western Union money transfer to relatives. We
can do more goodwill by reaching out. And you have that opportunity to do
it through Enugu-USA Medical Mission. Join
2015 Enugu-USA Medical Mission with a token of $10.00, $20.00 or even $30.00
or more. You can even donate medications and/or medical supplies.
Join us to go for the gold and make donation today. Enugu-USA Medical
Mission needs your HELP. Profound
Gratitude in anticipation of your donation, and I thank you for your precious
time.
Dr. Udeh, former PRO & National Secretary, member of Enugu
State Cultural Foundation NYC, a chapter of Enugu-USA writes and lives in Enugu
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