By Chinwe Nwacha, Onitsha
No fewer than 5015 patients were said to have received free medical treatment sponsored by Hon. Emeka Idu, representing Onitsha North/South in the Federal House of Representatives, during a three-day medical outreach (2nd-4th April), which was held at the Federal Medical Centre, Onitsha.
Out of this number of patients, 3,250 were treated of eye problems, presented with medicated glasses and issued with assorted drugs, while 99 fibroid surgeries and 125 Cataract surgeries were operated upon.
This disclosure was made by a surgeon among the medical team, Dr. Tochukwu Chinedu, at the end of the three-day medical outreach when Hon. Idu came visiting to access the extent of compliance with the free medical treatment.
Expressing satisfaction with the successful medical exercise rendered to his constituents, the sponsor and Federal lawmaker, Hon. Idu, said that the free medical treatment became necessary in view of lack of fund by the patients to afford the exorbitant medical bill.
“So I felt it very necessary to save lives of my constituents suffering from these illnesses that are mostly eye, fibroid and others that are so worrisome but they could not afford the exorbitant cost.
“I thank the medical team for a job well done and will continue to see to the health problems of my constituents despite the provisions of palliatives as part of dividends of democracy of which my people will continue to enjoy,” he further affirmed.
When he got wind that number of patients for free eye glasses out numbered the glasses which resulted in scores not receiving the glasses, he said to the eye medical team, “Tell me what it will take for all these people that are here who suppose to use glasses so that they go home with their glasses and I must do it.
“He recalled that, “Anytime I will be alerted that a fibroid patient is going for surgery, I will start praying to God because I don’t want any casualties and God has always done it for me,” he revealed.
Thanking Idu for his philanthropy, Mrs Christiana Chukwuemeka, one of the fibroid surgery beneficiaries said that she has been praying for Hon. Idu Emeka starting from the time he was sick, praying for long life upon his life and the Lord that did it will continue giving him long life for remembering me.
“Idu is a very good man, he is really working, people should praise him because of his good works,” she posited.
Mrs Chinwe Nwacha from Onitsha North ward 15, said she was not surprised at the free medical treatment sponsored by Hon. Idu because he has been doing a lot to people of his constituency, adding that once one comes to him the person will be favoured.
“Idu never promises and fails to fulfill his promise and if he fixes anything, he will make such it goes as he wants it. He doesn’t discriminate whether you vote for him or not. Once you deserve the help, he must render it to you.
“I came for eye check because my eyes always scratch me and other things, but when I go through the test, I found out that one of my eyes is extremely bad such that if not for Idu free medical treatment, I wouldn’t have known that until it gets worse and becomes late to be remedied,” she revealed.
Also Mrs Loveth Nwachukwu, a fibroid beneficiary said that Hon. Idu who through him she was favoured in this treatment prayed God to guard, direct and give him longevity to continue to save lives of his constituents.
Another patient said, “My name is Mr Dominic Emeagwali, I did cataract operation, I heard the announcement and I came, my number was 788, as God may have it I was favoured and initially I never knew it will be possible but I was favoured.
“I was booked for surgery in another hospital but the money is on the high side and I don’t have the money, today Hon. Idu sponsored the surgery.
“I want to plead on people to try and vote for him again, let him go again so that he will finish all the works he planned for Ndi Onitsha because he is really doing what he promised to do,” she explained.
Mrs Felicia Ezechukwu, from No 4 Machie lane, Onitsha said, “When Idu was coming for campaign we were praying for him to win and as God may have it, he won and since then he has been doing one thing or the other to the people of Onitsha mostly the poor people.
“How I wish they will allow him to go again, because as I am seeing him, he still has a lot to do for us despite the fact that he has done a lot. Sponsoring eye surgery is not easy, I was booked for operation in a hospital at Nkpor, and charged me #400,000 which I cannot pay but today Idu sponsored it, from hospital card, surgery, medicines and the glasses, everything was given to me free of charge.
“That is how God will bless him and his family, mostly his wife that always supports him,” she prayed
Mrs Elizabeth Okoye, cataract surgery patient stated, “I thank Hon. Idu for sponsoring my operation because I never expected I will get such favour from anyone. Help me and send my greetings to Idu, I am a widow, I am the highest person that received this blessing.
“In next election, I will make sure that anyone around me vote for him, pray they allow him to go again, because he is working, he has been helping poor people all the time,” she disclosed.