Free Medical Mission highlights Ogbakor Ikwerre USA/Canada's Appeal for Office to Enhance Community Engagement

[Chukwuemeka Okala]

Free Medical Mission highlights Ogbakor Ikwerre USA/Canada's Appeal for Office to Enhance Community Engagement

Onyeche Wofurum Igwe

The President of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organization USA/Canada, Dr. Patrick Ugo Anyawoke, has made a heartfelt appeal to the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Hon. Gift Worlu, to secure an office for community engagement. According to Dr. Anyawoke, this office will serve as a hub for providing essential services to the Ikwerre people, including scholarship and employment opportunities.

Dr. Anyawoke made this appeal during a Free Medical Service event organized by OIUSA/Canada at Rumuobiakani. He expressed his gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of the medical mission, acknowledging the generosity and support received.

He said: "My name is Dr Patrick, I am the current President of Ogbakor Ikwerre USA/Canada. We have actually conducted two medical missions so far, this is our third one. The first one was in Ikwerre LGA, the second in Emohua LGA and now we are in Obio/Akpor LGA. Our next mission will be in Port Harcourt LGA.

"It's going to be a five-day medical mission, Monday through Friday. Yesterday was our opening day. To my understanding, there were more than 25 eye surgeries performed yesterday.

"There is this story of a young lady who had a surgery yesterday. Earlier, she was asked to pay ₦500,000 at UPTH. She got that surgery done yesterday and she was jubilating. It sent tears through my eyes to see someone excited and jubilating for getting a simple medical surgery.

"But what we intend to accomplish in this medical mission, like we've done in other medical missions, is to ensure that we see more people than we have seen in the past. In Ikwerre local government, we served close to 3,000 or 4,000 people. In Emohua LGA, we served close to 8,000 people. In Obio/Akpor, which is the largest local government in Rivers State, we hope that we'll see more than 8,000 people.

"We want, at the end of the day, that people will have success stories, success stories of this medical mission. I don't want us being the one telling the stories. I want people, people who actually felt the impact, to be the one telling the success stories so that the world can hear and then support what we are doing."

The Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organization USA/Canada President specifically thanked the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, for providing logistical support, including feeding, diesel for power supply, a 500-capacity tent, chairs, tables, public address system, and security. Dr. Anyawoke also appreciated His Lordship, Rt. Rev. Innocent U. Ordu DSSRS, JP, the Bishop of the Diocese of Evo and Hon. Gift Worlu for providing the facility.

These efforts demonstrate the organization's commitment to improving the lives of Ikwerre people. By securing an office for community engagement, Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organization USA/Canada aims to further enhance its outreach and support for the community.

The 5-day Medical/Surgical Mission 2025 with the Theme: "Ehnioma bu Ekwnu" (Health is Wealth) started on Monday, October 13 and will end on Friday, October 17, 2025. The venue is at Bishop Elenwo Memorial Hospital, Rumuobiakani, Port Harcourt.