Dear volunteers, supporters, family and friends,
I am delighted to share with you all a summary of the just concluded free medical/surgical/dental mission by the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA) in collaboration with Rotary International District 9110, and Dagomo Foundation , on April 23-29, 2023, at Sango-Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. The venue was at Ace Medicare Clinics, generous courtesy of the owner, Dr. Wole Kukoyi.
The multidisciplinary team of medical and non medical personnel composed of about 45 volunteers from the United States complimented by almost 100 volunteers from Nigeria. This was part of the Annual ANPA week which usually includes Advocacy in healthcare, medical Education, and medical Mission.
Extensive pre-mission preparation and needs assessment were undertaken.
The opening ceremony was boosted by the visit of the Former President of Nigeria, HE Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, who hails from Ogun State.
The medical and pediatric teams attended to over 2,000 patients with various ailments including malaria, hepatitis, hypertension, diabetes, arthritis to name a few. They were supported by the Pharmacy team that also provided needed medicines to the other teams.
The surgical team performed over 100 different operations including fibroids removal, hysterectomies, abdominal and inguinal hernias repairs, breast lumpectomies, lumps and bumps, thyroidectomies for huge goiters, pediatric hernias and undescended testis, etc. The dental team was busy with a lot of teeth cleaning, extractions, etc, while GI team performed several upper and lower endoscopies.
Educational activities included patient teaching, students and Residents teaching, knowledge and skills sharing among the consultants, and practical “training the trainer”workshops in Helping Babies Survive program plus Stop the Bleed program of the American College of Surgeons Trauma committee. The goal is for the trainees to continue teaching these latter programs after the mission concluded.
A lecture and workshop on Happiness was also given.
After this medical mission the next one for me was traveling to Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, to teach laparoscopic surgery at Faith Alive Hospital, but I was unable to teach because the installation of the new laparoscopic equipment in the operating room suite was incomplete. I plan to go back another time in the future to work with them on this. Meanwhile, on behalf of my nonprofit organization, Chima Medical Mission International (CMMI), I donated over 120 pounds of medications, surgical supplies and laparoscopic instruments to Faith Alive Hospital via its founder and my mentor, Professor Chris Isichie.
The final leg of this medical missionary journey took me and my family to Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. With the help of my wife, Nurse Ada and Nurse Sop Iwe and student Nurse Chioma Chima, plus daughter Olivia, we sorted various medicines, packaged them with appropriate labels and directions, then had a mini medical outreach to the people in the local communities. The remaining medicines and reading glasses were left with Rev. & Mrs. Charles Ezendu of Durham Baptist Church Amafor (my village home church), and local nurses to distribute accordingly, especially during the church health programs and outreaches.
Special moments included volunteering alongside my family for the first time since Covid, meeting former President Obasanjo in person, seeing smiling happy patients after receiving care or surgery, and watching the excitement when a church member can see their Bible verses better because of simple magnifying reading glasses.
The attached pictures are part of the story and you can see more at our websites www.anpa.org and www.chimamedicalmissions.com
I would like to thank you, our volunteers, donors, friends, family, and prayer warriors who made all these possible! Special thanks to our partners mentioned above plus Blessings International and Isaiah’s Rock, through which most of the medications were donated or purchased at discount rates.
Most thanks to our God who gave us the skills, desire and strength to serve His people this way, and for His protection and security.
Remain blessed,
Cliff Eke, MD, FACS,FICS
Founder/CEO CMMI
President-Elect ANPA
