2007 MERCY FOUNDATION MEDICAL MISSION REPORT

 The medical mission trip by Mercy foundation USA took place between Wednesday 15th August to Friday 17th August 2007, at the Diocesan Hospital Amichi, Nnewi South Local Govt. Area, Anambra State.
 The leader of the team was Ukamaka Oruche, accompanied by her husband, Ody Oruche and an American, Mr. Jackson. The trip was described as being a huge success both by participants and the State media and was rated as one of the best organized in recent times.
 Prior to the onset of the 2007 medical mission announcements were made to the public through the churches and the union in Amichi and its environs including Nnewi-South and Nnewi-North LGA. Attendance witnessed clients across many local Government Areas in Anambra State and beyond. Areas of treatment were restricted mainly to drugs management of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, stomach ulcers, osteoathritis and some infection related diseases.
 A total of about 40 volunteers worked during the trip including doctors & nurses, student nurses from Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hosp.(NAUTH) Nnewi, paramedical staff and orderly’s which helped in crowd control.
 Security for the visit was on private arrangement as the Anambra State deployed Mobile policemen to cover the trip could not come until a day after the visit. This they attributed to late arrival of directive from the Anambra State House. They advised we write direct to the Area Command (mobile policemen) subsequently to avoid bureaucracy.
 The mission started with a prayer session of thanksgiving to God for the realization of the trip, donor agencies, the Mercy Foundation Int’l, Amichi indigenes in USA, the people and Government of Anambra State and all that have contributed to the success of this mission. This was followed by an interactive (lecture and questions) session on the mentioned disease conditions above ie (health education) before the actual screening and consultation. The services were entirely FREE to the public.
 A total of 927 clients were covered and there has not been any report of adverse effect of the drugs so far.
Testimonies are abound of the efficacy of the drugs used.

                        CHALLENGES:
(1) Difficulties contending with the teaming crowd. However, this was under control from the second day
(2)  Some drugs ran out of supply early e.g PUD and Osteoattritis medications.
(3)   Inability to attend to all the clients. However, free treatment continues every Wednesday as supplies last.

This second onsite medical mission to Amichi was conducted from August 9th to 20th, 2008, and took place at the Diocesan Hospital Amichi. The US volunteer team was led by Ukamaka Oruche (project manager), with Ody Oruche (Planning and logistics), Dr Sampson Ogbuchi (medical consultant), Laura Nichols, Clinical Nurse Specialist, and Will Johnston, a Master prepared social Worker. The home team was led by Dr Okwudiri Obiadazie (Medical director), and included his nursing staffs, support staffs, two medical doctors, two medical students and 13 student nurses from Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
The US team arrived in Nigeria on August 10th.   We began set-up and provided few medical consultations on the 11th. The medical mission ran from August 12th to the 14th. We served 802 patients, 2/3rd of who were women (see table 1). We were happy to serve many men as well.  Most prevalent diagnoses were hypertension, diabetes, ulcer, and arthritis. Others included malaria and asthma.
We transported enough medications (i.e. two types of hypoglycemic medicines to treat diabetes, five types of anti-hypertensive medicines to treat high blood pressure, and various pain medications). Each medicine will serve 500 patients per month for 6 months. During the 3 1/2 - day medical mission, we served 802 patients.  The patients came from 23 towns (see table 1). The hospital had enough medication left to continue to run its established ½ day Wednesday clinic. The amount of medications left will serve approximately 50 patients per week for about 10-12 months.
A vital component of each encounter was patient education about the medical diagnoses, medications, nutrition, and other lifestyle or behavioural management skills. Patients were also instructed on what to do regarding follow-up clinic visits to monitor their responses to medications. The testimonies of the patients who regularly attended the free Wednesday clinics in the last 2 years are overwhelmingly positive.
The mission will not be possible without the unwavering and unconditional support of the Mercy Foundation, the Nnewi Anglican Diocese, Oil Serv Limited, Mrs Amaka Molokwu, and the prayers and financial support of our families and friends.

Ukamaka Oruche