Medical Outreach to Anka...

It's been a long while since my last blog post...many changes...new goals, new job, new continent...but still the same old, witty Kene - my Facebook posts bear me witness !!!

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Memories of my one-year service to my nation still come to my mind once in a while...those were truly simple times...living in simple circumstances...resources were limited, but I think it was truly an opportunity to serve, with a team of some very committed people...

In the bus we hired, getting ready to depart...

On Wednesday 9^th December 2009, the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the Federal Medical Centre, Gusau embarked on a medical outreach to Anka Emirate. All clinical departments in the hospital were represented in the contingent made up of twenty doctors. I worked in the Internal Medicine department at the hospital and I was glad to be part of the outreach.

The journey to Anka from Gusau took two hours and it was a smooth ride. Anka is regarded as the ancestral home of the Zamfarawa, the indigenous people of Zamfara state. Our first port of call was at the Emir’s palace, but we were told that he had gone to Mecca for the annual pilgrimage. However, he was ably represented by his deputy and we were given a warm welcome by members of the Emirate Council and the people of Anka. At the reception point in a hall at the Emir’s palace, we were given an opportunity to state the purpose of our visit. We also gave the people some health promotion messages addressing the common public health problems in their area.

After the welcome reception, the contingent was split into three groups. The first group stayed behind at the Emir’s palace and attended to members of the community, running consultation clinics, treating minor illnesses like malaria and giving general health advice to those who needed it. The second group moved to the local government office in the town and carried out similar activities to that of the first group. In addition, the second group also shared donated insecticide-treated mosquito nets to pregnant women and women with children under the age of five years. The third group was involved in a community deworming exercise among children in the town-square.

The Deputy Emir giving his welcoming speech

The people of Anka later on treated the visiting health team to a sumptuous lunch, which was well received; and then it was time to close the curtain on the program. The outreach proved to be a resounding success and a fulfilling experience for all the participants as it gave members of the ARD an opportunity to contribute their personal quota to development in their immediate locality.