Hon. Lalu Launches Health Initiative, Provides Free Medical, Surgical Care to Constituents

Hon. Ishaya David Lalu, PhD, the representative for Mangu/Bokkos federal constituency, has inaugurated the 2024 Lalu Health Initiative.

This significant program, created with Eden Compassion and Health Missions International and backed by the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA), offers free medical and surgical care to residents in Mangu, Bokkos, and surrounding communities.

Speaking at the launch, Hon. Lalu emphasized his dedication to addressing healthcare needs in his constituency, acknowledging the challenges faced by residents due to economic difficulties.

He stressed that this initiative goes beyond being a mere healthcare project, representing a deeper commitment to alleviating hardships in the community. True leadership, he added, lies in the ability to touch lives through compassionate action.

He noted that the program’s free medical services are designed to ease burdens on residents, as economic hardships in Nigeria increasingly hinder healthcare access.

The “health is wealth” principle guided this effort, aiming to bridge the gap for those unable to afford essential care.

Hon. Lalu expressed profound appreciation for the healthcare professionals volunteering in the program, commending their commitment to offering life-changing services.

Their selflessness, he said, has inspired him to look toward long-term improvements in local healthcare.

In her remarks, Mrs. Alozie Sarah Ngozi, BCDA’s Assistant Chief Officer of Public Affairs and Protocols, highlighted the agency’s support for amenities and infrastructure in Nigeria’s remote border areas.

Pleased with the initiative’s impact, she praised Hon. Lalu’s commitment to making government resources accessible and beneficial to those in need, especially in hard-to-reach locations.

Leading the medical team, Dr. Dinfa Longbap, MD and CEO of Eden Compassion and Health Missions International, expressed his gratitude for the collaboration.

He shared that partnering with a representative like Hon. Lalu has been unprecedented in his 15 years of work, as Hon. Lalu’s involvement brought extensive surgical and medical interventions directly to the community.

Dr. Longbap detailed the value of services provided, estimating the initiative’s worth at over 60 million naira.

He explained that goiter surgeries alone could cost up to 50,000 naira each, with over 500 cases planned, while other services include gynecological treatments, general surgeries, and laboratory tests for conditions like ulcers, typhoid, and malaria. Free medications are also distributed for various health concerns.

Also, Dr. Danat Mark, a consultant obstetrician and gynecologist, highlighted the initiative’s extensive reach, bringing together specialists from multiple fields.

He noted that the team has already performed significant surgeries on the first day, aiming to complete around 570 surgeries over the course of the outreach, benefiting nearly 12,000 individuals.

Beneficiaries, like Reverend Habila Ayuba Dapel, expressed gratitude for the urgent health interventions provided. He praised Hon. Lalu for his responsiveness to the community’s needs, expressing optimism and pledging ongoing prayers for the representative’s impactful service.