By Agbo Amuche, Abakaliki
The wife of the Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief (Mrs) Mary Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru, has flagged off a free medical outreach that will provide life-saving surgeries to 657 patients with hernia, fibroid, eye defects, and breast lumps, while 626 others have undergone free eye screening. Those diagnosed with complex cases will benefit from corrective surgeries, while others will receive medicated eyeglasses.
The exercise, now in its third phase, is a joint initiative of the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency (EBSHIA) and the BERWO Foundation, the Governor’s wife’s pet project. The flag-off ceremony was held at the Women Development Centre, Abakaliki.
Speaking at the event, Mrs. Nwifuru reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to prioritizing healthcare.
“Health will remain the core of our development priorities. Because when our people are healthy, they can learn, work, farm, and trade. Together, we shall continue to build a state where health is a right, not a privilege,” she said.
She urged Ebonyians to embrace the programme fully, stressing that it is designed to restore hope and dignity to families grappling with health challenges.
“This initiative is not just about free surgeries or health insurance cards. It is about proving that government can be compassionate, responsive, and close to the people,” she added.
Mrs. Nwifuru noted that many families silently suffer the burden of hernia, fibroid, and poor eyesight due to financial hardship. She said the free outreach aims to relieve such burdens and transform lives across communities.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma, lauded Governor Francis Nwifuru’s strides in the health sector, including the recruitment of health workers, provision of medical equipment, and free ambulances. He recalled that the First Lady had earlier enrolled 4,000 pregnant women, 300 sickle cell warriors, and 1,300 others into the state’s health insurance scheme.
EBSHIA Executive Secretary, Dr. Divine Igwe, disclosed that out of 1,283 patients registered, 626 underwent eye screening, while 657 will receive surgeries for various conditions. He commended the Governor and his wife for repositioning the state’s healthcare system.
Other dignitaries, including EBSHIA Chairman Mrs. Elizabeth Ogbaga, Vice Chancellor of David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences Uburu, Prof. Jesse Uneke, and BERWO team member, Barr. Kelechi Mbam, described the medical interventions of the Governor and his wife as unprecedented. They hailed their commitment to improving the health of the less privileged and prayed for God’s continued blessings upon them.
