Mfon Ekpa Foundation Reaches Out to IDPs
The Mfon Ekpa Foundation (MEF) in conjunction with Pro-Health International, on Monday flagged off a week-long medical outreach Programme targeted at the vulnerable with the aim of carrying out 300 surgical procedures and giving out material items for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Wasa village, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.
Briefing journalists at the commencement of the event, Dr. Iko Ibanga. Lead Consultant for Pro-Health International, described the event as a celebration of the life and times of late Mfon Obong Ekpa. Ibanga said the week-long activities are part of programmes put in place to launch the Mfon Ekpa Foundation, in honour of Mfon Obong Ekpa, the late son of Amb. Anthonia Ekpa, Phd the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs.
According to Dr. Ibanga, apart from the medical outreach, the programme also involves giving out to IDPs items such as foods, clothings and drugs.
“This is a celebration of the life of a young man that had so much potentials, that impacted what we are doing for health. He helped us design many things including our website. So today, being his first birthday in heaven we thought we should celebrate it in a way of reaching out to people, and giving them life. So Mfon Ekpa Foundation (MEF) has been set up to give life. And that’s what we’re doing though healthcare, through nutrition, food distribution, clothes distribution, just everything that would uplift people that’s the essence we set up Mfon Ekpa Foundation.
“The ones that need surgery we are taking them to three hospitals in the town. So this is one third of what’s going on. The target is that within this week we are going to do 300 surgeries, ranging from eye surgeries, general surgeries, gynecological surgeries and dental surgeries” he added.
Giving insights into the Programme, Mrs. Anthonia Akpabio Ekpa, disclosed that the activities are part of programmes to launch Mfon Ekpa Foundation (MEF), in honour of her son who died in August.
According to her, “My son left for heaven about three months ago and today is his birthday. I know personally he had big thoughts for today and one of those thoughts was to give back to God through the poor and the needy. So what we are actually doing is, we are capturing his thoughts, and we know he is in heaven and seeing us.
“Today is his first birthday in heaven, and we want to continue to remember this day while here on earth, and to do all that we think he would have been happy to do. So this for us is just the beginning, Mfon Ekpa Foundation (MEF), will do these as a way to honour Mfon. We are blessed to have family in Pro-Health which Mfon was so much involved. So Pro-Health International is a Chanel through which we are reaching out and I am happy”. Ekpa said.
Geoffrey Bitrus, the Chairman of the camp, while thanking the foundation, said the medications, foods items, and clothing were given to the IDPs free of charge.
“I want to say thank you to all the visitors that came today to my camp, especially the Pro-Health International, they came to help my people and it is free of charge. Both the drugs, the treatment, even the surgery are free, and we thank God for that” he said
John Samela, the Secretary of the Wasa IDP Camp, noted that the people in the camp are overwhelmed with joy because of the gesture.
According to John Samela, the Secretary of the Wasa IDP Camp, a total number 5128 persons currently live in the camp with numerous pressing needs, including medications and clothing and food.
