By: Ike Philip Abiagom
The ancient town of Igbuzo erupted with ecstatic celebration on Saturday, October 5th, 2024 as the Association of Ibusa Professional Women’s unwavering commitment to women’s health has made a significant impact over the years in Ibusa. They have been a pioneering force in preventive healthcare in Ibusa and its environs till date as they have provided free healthcare services to an average of about 5,000 individuals, encompassing men, women, and children, since inception. association of Ibusa Professional in a group pictures with His Royal Majesty, Obo(Prof.) Louis Nwaoboshi ,
Obuzor of Ibusa,
Their dedication to improving the health and well-being of the Ibusa community remains steadfast.
Through their initiative, women have received free preventive medical care, including general tests, eye tests, reading glasses, blood pressure checks, blood sugar level tests, breast screening, cervical screenings, and prostate screening every year.
The Association in conjunction with Ibusa Association USA INC. embarked on another free Medical Outreach and talk recently for the year 2024.
Addressing the beneficiaries at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Ibusa, the President of the Association, Mrs. Elizabeth Idigbe emphasized the importance of community engagement and the role the women are playing in providing healthcare services. She expresses their commitment to continually ensure that the masses and indigenes of Ibusa have access to healthcare free and at no cost.
She added that free drugs were dispensed based on health conditions, while those whose medication could not be immediately provided were referred to appropriate hospitals for further follow up.
She urged the residents to take their health seriously and always seize the opportunity for check-ups like these particularly checking their blood pressure which is one of the leading causes of death among young and old, saying that regular checks can help avert critical conditions leading to death.
The Association also visited Ibusa Girls Secondary to give career talks to the girls, mentoring them to be professionals in their chosen fields of study, harnessing their talents. The girls there beamed with hope and excitement for the future.
The next agenda for the association is to build a skill acquisition centre to better the life of the girl child in Ibusa.
The Association will continue to support the education and moral development of young girls in Igbuzo and beyond. “Together, we can nurture a generation that will lead with wisdom and compassion,”
Also speaking at the event was the founder and President Emeritus Prof. Mrs Ifeoma Utomi, who said the association was found in 2012 and incorporated in 2016 has since been carrying out medical outreach programmes in Ibusa and impacting on the lives of our women by offering free medical care for the past 8 years, but for the two years now, prostate cancer screening for men was introduced while the women, will continue with the breast and cervical cancers screening.
Also speaking at the event, was a beneficiary of the free medical outreach, Mrs Isioma Nonyalim, expressing her profound gratitude for the outreach program.
“I am very grateful for your help with the medications. We now have some relief from the pressing challenges we face these days,” she noted.
Another beneficiary, Madam Comfort Okafor, thanked the group for their efforts in addressing health issues in the community as she urged the association to sustain the programme for the betterment of Igbuzo.
The Free medical outreach was graced and well attended by dignitaries like the wife of the Obuzor, HRM, Mother and Queen, Obi Mrs. Agnes Nwoboshi, President General of Ibusa Development Union (ICDU) worldwide, Pat Utomi, Dr. Obidi but to mention a few.