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Rivers Community Gets Free Medicare

Published

2 years ago

August 22, 2023

The people of Elele town in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State have benefitted from an intense medical programme put together by the Medical Mission For Peace in conjunction with AMERICARES and Elele Health Association.

The programme which was held recently at the Rotimi Amaechi Center for Empowerment ( RACE) Elele, was targeted at providing free healthcare basically for residents of the area who are least likely to afford it.

The medical team which comprises of Physicians, Nurses, Pharmacists, Medical Laboratory Technicians, Medical Assistants and Crowd control Personels treated different degrees of ailments ranging from malaria, typhoid fever, arthritis, diabetes,high blood pressure as well as bacteria infections.

The two days programme which started at 9am to 4pm daily recorded 703 patients with visual problems, among which were children of 6 months old and adults in their nineties, just as patients under the age of 20yrs with high pressures were dilated.

Addressing newsmen shortly after the exercise, Dr. Welekwe Nnamdi, the optometrist said,
“We took intraocular pressures on the sight- saving glaucoma drops. Some of the cases we treated required foreign body removals and dry eyes due to meibomiam duct dysfunctions.

” The youngest patient with glaucoma was 22 yrs old. We had an ‘autorefractor reading of ‘ unable to read’ because, it exceeded the +/-10,00D limit. He was +10-00D in both eyes. We did not have any +10.00D glasses with us but we did have +8.50D with a bifocal.

“We also had a child with severe left eyelid ptosis. We found she had a corneal ulcer for over a week and we started her on a pulse dose of vigamox (antibiotic drop).

” sunglasses were a hit, especially the kids’ sunglasses, because patients under 20 years of age were all dilated. Patients loved receiving a new pair of glasses and were very grateful. The patients faces radiated with palpable joy as each of them had the eyeglasses stuck on their faces, discovering a new world around them”, he said.

While also identifying some challenges associated with the programme such as low workforce, recruitment of volunteers, due to limited geographic area targeted, insufficient drugs and short duration, Dr. Nnamdi said, ” we ran out of drugs and had to make purchases at retail in the open market. We also had to shut down and turn away patients due to short duration”, he said.

On his part, founder, Medical Vision for Peace, Dr. Ogu Emejuru expressed gratitude to AmeriCares for donating the medical supplies and drugs.

He thanked CHIMATEMS LLC for their support for providing additional drugs for the exercise and lauded the efforts of all the health volunteers from the community that gave up their time to help in the health care of the community. He particularly expressed appreciation to Dr. Ike Nlerem who is the President of Elele Health Association and Ms. Janet Obunwo, a prominent Nurse based in New York for their contributions to the success of the programme.

Dr. Emejuru also donated 600 readers myopic single-vision glasses and sunglasses for the programme.

Meanwhile, during the follow up debriefing, Medical Visions for Peace and Elele Health Association pledged a yearly free medical mission for the people, while also seeking support from members of the community.

Beneficiaries of the programme which includes older adults and children expressed happiness for the medical intervention. A total of 1,709 patients were treated during the exercise.

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Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

6 days ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

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