Nigerian doctors abroad to provide free medical services in Cross River

Some Nigerian doctors in the U.S. are coming to provide free medical services to the people of Cross River State, as part of their contributions to the state's development.Dr Ikpeme Ebong, the Special Adviser to the governor on Diaspora Matters, made this known recently, while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar.Ebong said that the initiative was part of the state government's efforts to encourage Cross River indigenes in overseas countries to contribute their own quota to the state's development.'The free medical service, which is the first phase of the programme, will cover the 18 local government areas of the state.'For logistics reasons, people will go to one specific centre in each of the three senatorial zones of the state for the medical programme.'Those in the Central Senatorial District will go to Itigidi, while those in the Northern Senatorial District will go to Ogoja General Hospital.Those in the Southern Senatorial District will converge at the Calabar General Hospital for the week-long exercise,'' Ebong said.The special adviser said that the exercise would be closely monitored to ensure its success, adding that the doctors would be coming with all the requisite medical equipment for the exercise.Ebong, who said that the pilot stage of the programme would involve general medicine, stressed that the programme would be a continuous event.He said that the doctors would be provided free accommodation during the programme, while the government would put measures in place to guarantee their safety.Besides, Ebong said that other professionals in overseas countries were also expected to come to Cross River and discuss with the entrepreneurs, with a view to opening up investment opportunities.'The other groups of professionals will also come here to discuss with business partners about investments in tourism and other areas,' he said.He, nonetheless, urged the people to come out en masse for the coming medical programme.
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