The chairman of Qua’an Pan Local Government Area, Ernest Da’a, checking up on beneficiaries of free medical services receiving post-operative care.
By Marie-Therese Nanlong
Jos – Qua’an Pan local government area of Plateau State is one of the most rural areas in the State. Carved out of Shendam local government area of the State in 1989, with headquarters at Ba’ap, the local government is rural in every sense of the word.
It lags behind in social amenities with very limited access to quality social services including health/medical care and those with resources go to Shendam, Jos or nearby Nasarawa State to access such care.
Those without the means take advantage of any opportunity for free health/medical services provided by public spirited groups/individuals to attend to their health needs.
Hence, it was not surprising when over 20,000 inhabitants trekked kilometers to benefit from the weeklong medical and surgical services organized by the Council boss, Ernest Da’a in collaboration with Eden Compassion and Health Mission (ECHM).
The general report presented by the medical team shows that 20,014 people were attended to in the zones located at Doemak, Kwalla and Namu where; 90 persons underwent Obstetrics and Gynaecological Surgeries (Myomectomies, C/S, TAH, DELUENIES); 210 went through eye surgeries, while 470 received eye glasses and 2,621 received consultations and other eye treatments.
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Also, 630 persons benefited from general surgeries, which include Appendicitis, Hernia Hydrocele and Lipoma; 9,713 had professional consultations, while 415 persons were scanned for various ailments. 5,865 persons benefited from laboratory investigations, with emphasis on Hepatitis, H/Pylori, Malaria, Rvs, Rbs, High Value Urinalysis, transfusions, among others.
The Council’s Boss, Hon. Ernest Da’a, who spoke at the closing of the exercise, reiterated his Administration’s desire to provide services that have direct bearings on the lives of the common man, stressing that, “the idea of the medical and surgical intervention was to help the populace in accessing medical services, especially, the less privileged.”
He added, “Generally speaking, outreach services are the possibilities to enhance access to health workers and to improve overall retention at a particular level. It is in line with this assertion that the Qua’an Project (Endless Possibilities) saw the need to mobilize urban health workers to serve our remote or under-served areas as a strategy to improve access to health to the population in this locality.
“We segmented the delivery of the health services into four medical facilities, including PHC Namu, Gateway Clinic Namu, PHC Doemak and Cottage Hospital, Kwalla. This was done to create proximity and to avoid congestion, as well as making the services, really free.”
He maintained, “This administration is determined to provide governance that will have direct bearings on the lives of the people. In no distant time, another opportunity may be provided. We hope to continue to offer free medical services to our people.”
The MD/CEO, Eden Compassion and Health Mission, Dr. Longbap Dinfa, thanked the Qua’an-Pan Project Administration for the privilege to make positive impact in the lives of the people of Qua’an-Pan LGA and environs, describing the exercise as one of the best medical interventions ECHM has ever embarked upon.
He called on the Local Government Council to organise such, at least twice a year for citizens to access free services.
The Long Pan and President Qua’an-Pan Traditional Council, Nda Emmanuel Dabang, represented by the District Head of Doemak (Long Doemak), Miskagam Cosmos Dakyap, expressed gratitude for the free medical services to the people of the area and assured of their support towards the success of every good gesture to the people.
