.Says strategy on 2019 trip has started
By Daniel Kanu
Assistant Politics Editor
After taking a comprehensive assessment of his 2018 medical mission in Nigeria, founder of Kalu Ulu Memorial Foundation, Dr Anuma Kalu Ulu, said he was fulfilled with what was delivered during the service-oriented and need-meeting exercise.
Ulu, renowned Geriatrician specializes in the unique health needs of the elderly, including chronic diseases, skin ailments, nutritional problems, memory impairment, cognitive loss, adverse effects of medications, immobility and balances issues.
The Nigerian-born medical practitioner based in the United States said more communities, spanning over four states were covered during the exercise that lasted close to a month.
Speaking to The Niche from his base in Central Islip, New York, Ulu said he was delighted with the volume of task covered during his stay in the country, promising that more will come.
Said Anuma “I am happy with what we were able to do during my 2018 medical mission trip to the country. As usual, although it was tasking it was worth-enjoying because we did our utmost best not only to save lives but improve its quality as well as empower some to the best of our capacity.
“it was like a train, we left from communities from Abia state to Imo state, then touched Anambra state and rounded it off at Obinofia/ Ndiulo community in Enugu state. Despite that its tasking I derive so much joy in it because it’s a passion for me. I enjoyed every bit of the moment. I even took ill at the end of the exercise, having catarrh and all that stuff but they are all part of the sacrifice” He told The Niche.
According to him “we distributed a lot of drugs, gave free medical services, free consultations, gave football Jaycees to some teams including cash gifts as well as financial assistance to some individuals that have acquired skills but had no fund to start up their businesses”.
“Even as I speak to you now coordination for this year’s (2019) exercise is already on, its planning. We are not slacking in anyway. We are improving upon what we have on the ground. We still have in stock drugs at our different administering points and people are going there to get their medication. I am happy with the reports and how my people’s health issues are being tackled through our humble effort. It was awesome.
” there are some individuals (patients) that called our phone lines and we get across to them in their homes to administer the medication, professionally. They were revived and you could see the joy on their faces. Those are the things that make me happy: putting coy of smile on peoples faces with minimum assistance.
“As I have always emphasized, our mission is to touch lives either through our free health provision or on welfare, food provision in some cases as well as financial assistance just as the occasion demands”.
Corroborating Anuma’s appraisal, Barrister Kalu Kalu Ogbonnaya, one of the coordinators of the project told our correspondent that “lives were really touched, hopes restored and some peoples future lighted up with some financial assistance”.
He said the exercise was “energy sapping and gulped huge amount of money not including the drugs that were dispensed but in all we were fulfilled with all we did”.
He told The Niche that “we visited 4 states (Abia, Imo, Anambra and Enugu). Aside from Umuahia and Aba, other areas were in the rural communities.
“there were some ladies that have completed their training as hair stylists, I think from Obinofia/ Ndiulo clan in Enugu state but had no money to start their trade the foundation assisted them. In fact, at Akpugo community, a Catholic priest gave Dr Anuma a plaque in commemoration of his free medical services in the community. The 2018 medical mission which Dr Anuma undertook was not only socially-relevant but changed some peoples destiny for good. I am happy I was part of the trip”.
A friend of Ulu, who identified himself as Patrick told The Niche that “I can tell you that Dr Anuma Ulu is a man that humanity is his constituency and his thoughts painted on global canvass. But he is a home boy first, he remembers his humble beginning and has chosen to domesticate his contacts to assist the rural people. For him, it is others first.
“You know Dr Anuma had his first degree from the university of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). So, he is not one that proscribes his memory. He knows his background, remembers it and puts value to it for the benefit of others”.
For his humanitarian services, Ulu in January 3rd (2019) was decorated with a chieftaincy title of “ONWA NA ETIRI ORA” (The moon that shines for all) by his Agbogo-Obiene-Ututu community in Abia state.
It would be recall that Dr Ulu was nominated for the “2009 and 2010 CNN-Heroes Award” for his philanthropic work.
His passion for charity has continued to drive him live a life where philanthropy has defined his everyday life. Kalu Ulu Memorial Foundation is a tax-exempt non-profit organization geared towards improvement of the health and socio-economic status of indigent rural-dwellers in Nigeria through provision of free goods and medical services.