By Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi
The Presidential Committee on North-east Initiative (PCNI) in partnership with Pro-Health International (PHI) has launched a free medical intervention in Bauchi  to cover over 5,000 returnee Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and patients in Bauchi State.
Speaking during the launching of the Free Medical Outreach held at the General Hospital, Bayara, Bauchi Tuesday,  a member of the  PCNI Board Of Trustees (BoT), Mr. Mohammed Gambo Umar, said the programme was part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s plan for health care delivery meant for vulnerable IDPs and residents in host communities in the North-east.
According to him, “We are aware of the strategic position of Bauchi State that have lots of influx of IDPs and overstretched the health care facilities and as such the need for this free medical outreach for the IDPs and residents of the communities.”
Umar, who is the  representative of Bauchi State in the PCNI, said: “The medical outreach initiative was borne out of the successes of our gallant military that have decimated the Boko Haram insurgents and have liberated lots of captives who have lived under poor health conditions.
“The PCNI has engaged Pro-Health International, with 80 different medical practitioners who will be participating in the programme. All beneficiaries would be cross-examined in various common health issues such as eye treatment, paediatrics, antenatal care, pharmacy, dental care and surgical operations, among others.”
He said that the PCNI, as part of President Buhari’s plan for health care delivery for vulnerable IDPs and residents of host communities in the North-east has provided free medical interventions for about 15,000 returnees in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.
The Executive Director of ProHealth International (PHI), Dr Iko Ibanga, said that about 80 different medical practitioners were participating in the programme “and here in Bauchi State over 5,000 or more patients will receive our medical services before the end of the exercise”.
Ibanga, who noted that the  intervention had already been carried out in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa StateStates, said the beneficiaries would be cross-examined in various common health issues such as eye treatment, paediatric, antenatal care, pharmacy, dental care and surgical operations.
According to him, â€But because of the mass turnout of the people who are in serious need of medical help in Bauchi,  the initiative decided to open its data to capture more people.”
