…offers free medicare to 3,000 patients

The President -general of Awka Union USA/Canada, Dr. Anthony Nwobum has said that it’s yearly medical outreach is due to  pervading mass poverty and limited access to healthcare, among citizens.

Dr. Nwobum, therefore, tasked the Federal Government  on the need to increase budgetary allocation to the health sector and subside cist of treatment to enable patients have more access to available and affordable health services.

He said the  2026 Awka Union USA /Canada Medical Mission  ending today targets  offering   free medical services to no fewer than 3000 needy patients in Awka community and environs as part of its Corporate Social Service (CSR).

Dr. Nwobum pointed out that the medical mission being funded by members of Awka Union USA/Canada is a special programme to alleviate poverty through provision of free health care services covering eye care service, provision of eyeglasses, and general medicine in the areas of Diabetes, High Blood Pressure,  Pain, Stroke, Malaria, Arthritis, etc.

According to him, the Union takes care of settlement of expenses in engaging about 60 health personnel who were engaged to provide the free health care services.

The free Medical Mission is a joint  programme of Dr. Anthony Nwobum-led Awka Union (USA) and Onyebuchi Mbonu-led Awka Union Canada in the last since 2017.

This year’s Awka Union USA/Canada Medical  Mission in it’s 5th edition started from  May 11, 2026 at Umuzocha Village Hal! through Ndichie Hall Umudioka; Ezi Umuanaga Village Agulu Quarters;  Umuokpu Village Hall; to May 15, this year to Me a 15, this year at Manari Osonwa Free Clinic, Obodoezi  Obunagu Village Amikwo Quarter.

In his speech, the President of Awka Union of USA/Canada, Onyebuchi Mbonu  revealed that branches  of Awka Union in USA and Canada  teamed up with USA to actualize the Union’s medical mission of sponsoring free health care services to people of Awka.

Mbonu noted that the medical mission is part of the Union’s bid to give back to the community, disclosing: “Nigerian government  has failed in the area of provision of health care services.

“If government  has been doing its best we would have no need to come here for this mammoth crowd in attendance.

In his remarks, a stakeholder, Chief Kanayochukwu Obidigbo  described as  expensive, wonderful and impactful ,the medical mission by Awka Union USA/Canada, an affiliate of Awka Development Union, Nigeria (ADUN) to bring healthcare and  welfare to the people of Awka and environs consistently for no fewer than a decade.

Obidigbo noted: “The mammoth crowd here for the free health care services of the people tells you that there’s need to focus on healthcare of the people and sustenance of the.mission.”

Also speaking, a health beneficiary and 78-year-old retiree, Onuorah Okafor appreciated the organizers to the continuous provision of humanitarian medicare and welfare services to the needy persons in the Community.

In his contribution, the Chairman of the Organising Committee of Awka Union USA/Canada, Comrade Chuks Nweke observed that the mission of the Union has led to such outcomes of increased life span, poverty alleviation and  improved livelihood, among others.

Earlier,, the Chairperson of Awka Union USA/Canada, Dr. Gloria Adigwe recalled that the medical mission which started in 2017 has seen the body intervene on behalf of  the people if Awha and environs in the provision of free health care as ‘they can’t  afford to travel abroad for medicare.

Adigwe disclosed that abroad, government has a programme of Social Determinants of Health  knowing full well that when people are poor, they have no access to expendable income to provide  healthcare services as they prefer daily  provision of food on the table than spend on drugs and other health services.

According to her,  “Instead of allowing our people to go abroad for health care, we believe that it’s better to save costs and to bring the medicare services down to our people here in Awka.”

Contributing, the Lead Doctor of the Awka Union USA/Canada’s Medical Mission, Dr. Titi Uyanwune confirmed 60 health personnel were recruited by Awka Union  of USA/ Canada comprising 12 doctors, 12 Pharmacists, 4 Optometrists, 2 radiographers and 14 Nurses and 20 Support Staff Uyanwune, a diaspora-based physician observed that Awka Union USA/Canada undertakes yearly medical mission to provide healthcare, maintenance and education, calling in government by to step up interventions to establish more health centres and improve healthcare delivery to assist achieve its target of reducing chronic health conditions of the patients.