by Ubani Newman Ubani (UNU)
In this second series of the uncommon nomenclatures that differentiates him from others, we will consider the FREE HOME HEALTHCARE FOR THE AGED a healthcare initiative introduced for the senior citizens of the State.
This type of good initiative which is strange to Nigeria but reigns overseas was launched last year in Umuahia
This programme is in tandem with the enablers of the five pillars of development and its enablers of the administration of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu. Many things informed the Governor’s decision to establish this free home healthcare for the elderly. One of the reasons is that, he wants to increase the life expectancy of Abians by reducing the number of the elderly people that go to the hospital, which is not their natural home. It would also reduce the amount of money and stress families invest in hospital and in burials, when the elderly people eventually give up the ghost.
The medical areas being handled by this rare initiative include;
Blood pressure,
Pulse and respiratory status assessment,
Monitoring of nutrition and hydration status,
Monitoring response and teaching of medication,
Administering insulin,
Wound and ostomy care,
Catheter care,
Obtaining specimens, such as blood for lab testing,
Visiting the elderly who have diabetes, cancer,
Heart disease Alzheimer,
Hypertension,
Arthritis,
Fractures,
Stroke among very many others.
Through the establishment of this project, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has also created employments for those who have been trained to carry out this project. Of course, the service providers are medical experts trained to handle such cases.
The system adopted by this free healthcare services to is that Registered Nurses will come to the comfort of the homes of these elderly people to provide these care to them, whereas the only thing needed by the elderly people to access this special services is their physical approval.
Governor Ikpeazu thought it wise that the health challenges experienced in old age could be better managed through improved accessibility and affordability of healthcare services, hence the state Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu deemed it necessary to provide free home health care services for the elderly from the age of 70 years and above as a way to improve their well-being and elongate their lives.
Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu and the Administrator of Tender Loving Care Home Health Services must be commended for bridging this health gap of the elderly in the State which would certainly elongate their lives.
The Governor is happy with the Administrator of Tender Love Home Health Care services, Chief Emenike Osondu, the Abia born US based home care service expert who is partnering with the State government in providing the healthcare services to the elderly in Abia State.
It is therefore pertinent that all and sundry should support this initiative and make it last beyond 2023 and could only be possible by reelecting him in 2019.
SUPPORT A GOVERNOR AT WORK.
UNU,
19/04/2018.
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