By Grace Ofurum
The Oweno Foundation, in collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN), has organized a one-day free medical outreach for men in Owerri, Imo State.
The outreach took place at the Bar Centre, Owerri High Court, and featured free health screenings and consultations.
Speaking at the event, the Legal Adviser to the Oweno Foundation, Barr. Ngozi Eucharia Anyanwu, emphasized that the foundation’s core mission is poverty alleviation and empowerment. However, she noted that health remains a fundamental aspect of empowerment, which is why the foundation has taken the initiative to organize medical outreaches across the South East region. She stressed the importance of men’s health, particularly the need to address often-neglected health issues.
Barr. Anyanwu highlighted prostate cancer as a pressing concern among men, noting that many fail to seek early detection due to financial constraints. The outreach aimed to bridge this gap by offering free medical services, including prostate cancer screening, blood sugar tests, HIV testing, blood pressure checks, weight and temperature monitoring, family planning services, and general health check-ups.
She reiterated the foundation’s commitment to improving the health of Nigerians, emphasizing that empowerment is only possible when people are healthy and alive.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Imo State Chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association, Barr. Chris Ihentuge, underscored the importance of regular health checks. He urged men to prioritize their health despite their busy schedules. Barr. Ihentuge noted that offering medical tests for lawyers was one of his campaign promises and expressed gratitude to the Oweno Foundation for partnering with the NBA to make the outreach possible.
The event also featured a health talk delivered by Ezike Chiamaka Pamela, the Clinical Officer of the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria. She discussed common health conditions affecting men and advised them to adopt healthy habits and undergo regular medical checks for early diagnosis and treatment.
One of the beneficiaries, Sir Barr. Austin Otuekere, expressed his gratitude to the foundation and its partners for providing the free medical services. He described the initiative as a valuable service to humanity and encouraged men to take advantage of such opportunities to prioritize their health.
It is worth noting that the Oweno Foundation and its partners recently organized a similar free medical outreach for women and girls in Imo State as part of activities marking the 16 Days of Activism for Women and Girls.
