By Emmanuel Antswen
The Mutual Union of the Tiv in America (MUTA) has announced that more than 2,000 individuals have benefited from its ongoing Health Fair in Gboko.
The Health Committee Chairman, Dr Orduen Abunku, told newsmen at St. John’s Secondary School in Gboko on Saturday, that the health fair would last for only two days.
He said the event was being organised by the union with support from the Catholic Diocese of Gboko and the Global Health and Development Initiative, sponsored by Red Aide Nigeria.
Abunku stated that the aim of the Health Fair was to support the existing health structures in the state to enhance healthcare services.
He highlighted that the most common issues diagnosed so far were eye-related problems, with one in every eight patients presenting symptoms such as vision issues, itching, and eye pain.
“Other conditions discovered during the fair include hypertension and abdominal issues.
“We are here on behalf of MUTA to conduct a health fair for the people of Gboko, courtesy of the Catholic Diocese of Gboko, which has provided the facility for the event.
“Yesterday, we saw more than 500 people, and today the turnout is much larger. We have a highly competent team capable of executing the programme.”
Abunku added that more than 2,000 individuals were expected to benefit from the fair, which was part of MUTA’s contribution to society.
He emphasised that the health fair was aimed at complementing the efforts of both the government and the Catholic Church to provide accessible healthcare services.
Other members of the health fair committee include Dr Terwase Diwa, Mrs Jene Abunku, Helen Nyamor, and Ahsizungwe Nyamor.
Diwa, head of the pharmaceutical unit, assured that there were enough drugs to meet the needs of the patients, with additional plans in place to prevent shortages.
He reiterated that MUTA’s goal was to complement existing healthcare structures in the state.
Mrs Jene Abunku also emphasised the union’s mission to support the health needs of the community.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Ruth Igbadoo, shared her experience with NAN, explaining that she had suffered from eye problems for years and lacked the means to seek medical attention until the fair.
She expressed gratitude to the organisers for providing the much-needed care. NAN
