Ebonyi Communities Get Two-Month Free Medical Care

The David Umahi Federal University Health Sciences (DUFUHS) and David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital (DUFUTH), both located in Uburu, Ebonyi State, have commenced a two-month free medical treatment programme for their host communities and beyond, aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery and addressing common ailments.

The programme was launched at the hospital on Tuesday and is expected to provide residents with access to medical consultation and treatment, while promoting early detection and management of common illnesses such as diarrhoea, malaria, arthritis, and high blood pressure, among others.

Vice-Chancellor of DUFUHS, Professor Jesse Uneke, said the initiative was designed to support broader efforts to improve healthcare services and make medical care more accessible to the public. He explained that the two-month programme would focus specifically on addressing common health conditions, including malaria, cholera, and other non-communicable diseases, while also aiming to strengthen the relationship between the teaching hospital and the communities within its catchment area by providing services to residents who might otherwise struggle to access healthcare.

Uneke stressed that the university and its teaching hospital remain committed to initiatives capable of improving the health and wellbeing of the wider population. "The treatment is not limited to some persons, it is open for everyone, irrespective of your tribe. This is part of our responsibility to give back to society. Making contributions and support to improve the health of the people, especially those that cannot afford quality healthcare," he said.

Also speaking at the launch, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of DUFUTH, Professor Chihurumnanya Alo, said the free treatment programme was necessary to help check the spread of common diseases among residents. He explained that the initiative was designed to give members of the public an opportunity to access medical services without being constrained by their social or economic circumstances, stressing that the programme is open to every citizen requiring medical attention during the exercise, with no restriction to any particular person, group, or category of residents.

Alo urged residents to take advantage of the initiative by presenting themselves at the hospital whenever they experience symptoms requiring medical attention, noting that early presentation at healthcare facilities assists prompt diagnosis and treatment, and reduces the risk of complications. He further emphasised the need for residents to adopt healthy practices and cooperate with healthcare professionals in efforts to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.

According to the hospital, the initiative forms part of its broader efforts to improve access to quality healthcare and contribute to the wellbeing of people within its host community and surrounding areas.

Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) at DUFUTH, Dr Ugoji Darlington-Peter, urged members of the public to take advantage of the treatment exercise to examine their own health. He explained that the two-month programme is expected to give residents an opportunity to access medical attention while simultaneously supporting broader public health efforts against common communicable diseases circulating within the area.

The DUFUHS and DUFUTH initiative adds to a pattern of free medical outreach programmes launched by Nigerian teaching hospitals and universities in recent years, as institutions increasingly look to combine their clinical and community-engagement mandates with direct, accessible healthcare delivery for residents in their host communities, particularly those who may otherwise face financial or logistical barriers to receiving timely medical attention.