By Uzo Ugwunze/Juliana Nwachukwu :
The families of former Aviation Minister, former Federal Road Safety Corp Marshal, Chief Osita Chidoka and House of Representatives member for Idemili North and South, Mr Obinna Chidoka have sponsored a multi million naira healthcare outreach and intervention program for the masses in memory of their mother, Late Ma Victoria Nneka Chidoka who died after a long battle with breast cancer.
Late Ma Chidoka who died of breast cancer is to be laid to rest on May 12.
According to the former Federal Road Safety Corp Marshal, Osita Chidoka, we are not among those who hide cause of death, our Late mother who died at the age of about 75years lived successfully with cancer for close to 15 years despite all predictions.
“We had to use this period of our mother’s burial to create awareness of the scourge of cancer which is affecting both young and old, educating people on the importance of going for early check and detection of cancer. Any form of cancer is treatable if detected early enough.
“We also intend to continue treatment and chemotherapy for those diagnosed with cancer after the burial of our mum. It is a way of giving back to the society the much God has blessed us with.
“We partnered with several healthcare organizations to embark on this healthcare missions. The three days healthcare program commenced on May 9 at Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area, then May 10 and 11 at Obosi, Idemili North LGA.
“We also went on road health walk, creating awareness on the need for health walk, body exercises and physical fitness, educating people on various ways to prevent certain ailments.
“We intended to screen and treat up to 200 women who are grappling with some ailments and may be finding it difficult to access healthcare in hospitals due to paucity of funds.
“No woman should die of cervical cancer because it has a vaccine and early detection of any form of cancer is also an advantage,” he said..
The exercise, tagged: “Nneka Chidoka Medical Outreach Program”, ended shortly after the remains of the late Mrs. Chidoka arrived Anambra International Charge and Passenger Airport, Umueri, from Abuja, for a wake keep.
The outreach with a theme:
“Building a healthy society” and areas of coverage as free medical care, eye care, blood sugar test, malaria test, physical fitness and cancer awareness lecture also took place on the said dates as a prelude for late Mrs. Chidoka’s interment.
Speaking to newsmen on the programme, leader of the medical team, Dr. Chinonso Nwosu said that within the three-day programme, no fewer than 600 patients were tested and given drugs, including free eye glasses for eye patients, adding that the most disease commonly found on patients during the period was hypertension.
However, the former Aviation boss described his mother as a strong woman who gave birth to five children, four boys and a girl.
According to him, we will commit whatever that is realized from the burial to the treatment of cancer scourge to support those suffering from the scourge.
“Our mother suffered it for 15 years and that early detection and treatment made her to stay this long, even when the medical experts predicted that she would die within five years of detection,” he said.
