Suleiman Anyalewechi, Aba
In keeping with the ongoing remodelling and reconstruction efforts by the Abia state government to align the Ariaria International Market with global best standards, plans have reached an advanced stage for the establishment of an ultra-modern diagnostic and health centre to cater for the emergency health needs of traders and other users of the market.
This is even as the market authorities have vowed to make the promotion of the welfare, interests and health condition of the traders the focal points of its administration.
This much was disclosed by the chairman of the market, Chief Chijioke Michael Amadu, while flagging off a free medical outreach program organized for the traders and other users of the market last week Friday.
Chief Amadu while speaking with NewsCritic online on the side-lines of the medical outreach programme, targeted at providing the traders with the opportunities of ascertaining their health status, said the market leadership are currently engaged in consultations and interfacing with all relevant authorities and stakeholders, including the supervising Trade and Investment Ministry and the host local council, Aba North over the establishment of the health facility.
When completed, the health facility which will be readily accessible and affordable by traders and other users of the market will attend to emergency health needs of the market community.
“Experience has shown that such a facility is highly needed at the market. We have seen several instances where pregnant women deliver while at the market. We have seen instances of traders and other users of the market developing health challenges while conducting their business activities.
“Others, due to some other constraints don’t make out time to attend to their health needs. Our intentions are to bring this all important health facility closer to users of the market, assist those who may not have time to attend to their health needs to do so, while still attending to their businesses and stem the tide of avoidable deaths due to lack of access to health facility in times of emergency,” Amadu noted.
The chairman revealed that the free medical outreach program which was put together in conjunction with E- Clinic is to provide traders and others with free medical tests, general health counselling and free medication, adding that the programme would be carried out periodically to help traders ascertain their health status, noting that most health challenges when diagnosed early enough can be properly managed.
He thereby called on traders and all market men and women to avail themselves the ongoing free medical outreach programme to maintain a healthy living.
