The National Association of Seadogs (NAS) has reaffirmed its commitment to the well-being of Nigerians through sustained support for the healthcare sector. In a recent free medical outreach, organised in collaboration with several decks in Opobo Town, Rivers State, the association demonstrated its resolve to provide quality healthcare to underserved communities. This event marked the sixth edition of NAS's signature October 1 Medical Outreach.
The free medical outreach, tagged: ‘Health for All: Bridging the Gap in Opobo’, was conducted in Opobo Town, Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State. The event was a collaborative effort between Olympus Marino Deck, Barracuda X, Aquamella X, and Oxbow Marino Decks. According to Capoon of Olympus Marino Deck, Ateli Biambo, the project aimed to leave a positive footprint on underserved grassroots communities.
This was not the first time NAS had conducted a medical outreach in Rivers State. Past editions of the outreach were held in Buguma, Degema, Ahoada West, Etche, and Kono. Opobo was specifically chosen to support residents, following the coronation of their monarch, King Charles MacPepple Jaja. The team brought care directly to the residents, expecting them to experience physical fatigue from regattas and festivities.
The medical outreach covered various areas, including optometry, dentistry, pharmacy, and general medicine, and targeted 1,000 residents. Within the first hour, over 150 patients were treated. Palace officials visited the venue, endorsed the initiative, and received treatment for ailments such as waist, leg, and eye pain.
The outreach was well-received by the community, with many residents benefiting from the free medical care. Representative of the Amanyanabo of Opobo, Chief Chamberlain Todd Peterside, described the outreach as an immense relief, given the high cost of medication. Emergency and environmental health physician, Dr. Atama Valentine, added that the mission was geared towards complementing government efforts by identifying community health gaps.
Common issues diagnosed during the outreach included hypertensive heart disease, visual impairment, malaria, and parasitic infections. Home visits were also organised for critically ill residents. President of Barracuda X Deck, Kingsley Ikeokwu, emphasised that the collaboration reflected unity, recalling a moving moment when a woman shed tears of joy after receiving free prescription glasses.
The NAS Area Five Supervisor, Eke Chinedu, covering Rivers and Bayelsa States, added that the free medical mission, alongside street children support, remains a core humanitarian intervention designed to bridge critical healthcare gaps. With over 500 patients benefiting from the medical mission, NAS has made a significant impact in the community.
Key points
- NAS targets 1,000 residents in Rivers State with free medical outreach
- The outreach covered optometry, dentistry, pharmacy, and general medicine
- The event was a collaborative effort between several decks in Opobo Town, Rivers State
