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.

                           Extracts / Conclusion
1. A total of 927 clients were attended to during the 3 days medical mission.
2. Major attendance came from the middle aged (51.13 %) and elderly (34.63 %)
         However, this is related to the type of Disease announced to be treated, which  
         are more common in the older age groups.
3. Children and Adolescents have the least attendance. (1.40 %). This is not   
     unconnected with the class of drugs provided.
     I believe that provision of more drugs for this age group will necessitate 
     announcement to cover diseases common to them and hence greater 
     attendance.
4. The male: female ratio 1: 3 male attendance 24.6 % and female 75.4 %.

     
Dr. Obiadazie O.O
MB BS, MPH (In progress)