At least 1200 residents of Ijara Sub County were treated for free after the Umma Youth forum of professionals partnered with the local constituency office to host a medical camp in Masalani town.
The team of medics led by Umma youth representatives Dr. Abdi Sheikh Mohamed pitched medical camps in Gababa location, where residents from Warsame, Sagar Abdi Gure areas in Garissa County underwent medical checkups and treatment for various ailments.
Dr. Mohamed said the team in collaboration with the Ijara Member of Parliament Abdi Ali Sheikhow settled for the medical camp to reach desperate residents who were unable to travel long distances for treatment at the Garissa referral hospital.
He however said some of those in attendance were referred for specialized treatment and further investigation at the Garissa Level Four Hospital, where CT scan equipment was available to establish the extent of their ailments.
Dr. Mohamed who was accompanied by four other doctors and nurses said they decided to undertake the mobile medical camp to reach out to poor villagers who suffered from simple ailments, but could not access medical facilities.
He said some of the common ailments detected during the tour included malaria, malnutrition among children, diabetes, high blood pressure and delivery complications among women in a region, where such cases were only handled by traditional birth attendants.
An officials of the Ijara Constituency office Iman Yarrow said residents in remote and inaccessible locations turned up in large numbers as some came as far as Gababa area to receive treatment.
Elated residents led by Mama Habiba Ali who spoke on their behalf, commended the local leadership for the initiative urging him to continue with that humanitarian trajectory of supporting the poor.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of health has disbursed drugs worth Sh4.5 million to Masalani sub County hospital
According to the area Medical Officer of Health Dr Abdimalik Ibrahim the consignment was meant to stem the acute shortage of vital drugs that had affected provision of health services in the area.
He urged residents to visit the medical facility at now that it was almost fully equipped.
By Mohamed Dahir
