Mobile integrated healthcare services: KNCV with support from USAID activates Wellness On Keke

By Nnedinma Okeke/Chukwudi Nwauba

The Koninklijke Nederlandse Centrale Vereniging (KNCV) Tuberculosis (TB) Foundation Nigeria, with support from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and collaboration of the Anambra State Ministry of Health (SMOH) has activated the Wellness On Keke (WOK) project.

The WOK program which was flagged off at the Eke-Awka Market Hall is a mobile intergrated healthcare services delivery for COVID- 19 vaccination, Blood Pressure (BP) and Blood sugar measurements.

Also, for TB screening and testing services with Portable Digital Xray and TB LAMP.

The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Health, Dr Afam Obidike while flagging off the event expressed gratitude that the concept includes screening of other chronic diseases apart from TB.

“I am glad that sceening for Diabetes, Hypertension and even COVID-19 vaccination are all intergrated into the WOK project and that it is mainly for rural areas.

“It is an aim of the government for Ndi Anambra to have access to adequate healthcare and this project will give people easy access to know their numbers and receive their COVID-19 vaccination while screening for TB.

“It is good that we work closely in the project, to ensure that people benefit from it extensively,” Dr Obidike said.

He, then, thanked KNCV for the concept while hoping that the WOK serves the people of the state adequately.

The Executive Director, KNCV Nigeria, Dr Bethrand Odume said KNCV remains grateful to the support received from the State’s Health Sector since the start of its TB long project in the state.

According to him, KNCV TB Foundation was funded by USAID to support TB treatment and cure in 14 states in Nigeria including Anambra State.

“Just recently KNCV received another global grant from USAID to scale up COVID-19 vaccination across seven states in Nigeria of which Anambra State is inclusive.

“In most of our interventions, Anambra State has been prioritised because of the relationship and result received since the start of the global and TB long project.

“Now, the package we have here is called Wellness On Keke (WOK). It is a local initiative concept by KNCV with funding from USAID to enable us deliver adequate healthcare to people in very hard to reach communities.

“The beauty of this project is that, it could be seen as a one-stop-shop for TB diagnosis, chronic disease screening and COVID-19 vaccination,” he said.

The Eke-Awka Chief of Staff, Mr Charles Anierobi on behalf of the market Executive Chairman, Mr Jude Emeka Agummadu and his team of the Eke-Awka Market thanked the State Government, SMOH and the KNCV foundation.

He urged the market people to take advantage of the exercise and know their numbers while checking their their status as it was for the benefit of all.

Also present at the event was representative from the SMOH, Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHCDA) and the Awka South Local Government Health Authority (LGHA) team. (MOI)