RISE @10: Celebrating RISE 10yrs of comprehensive healthcare delivery, support in Anambra
By Lawrence Nwimo
RICE Clinic, a global health initiative for healthcare delivery, this year, marked 10 years of consistent presence and healthcare support in Anambra State.
The clinic was founded in 2012 in Adazi-Ani, Anaocha LGA, Anambra state by renowned Anambra Philanthropist and founder of Aspire football club of Adazi-Ani, Dr Emeka Okeke.
Right from onset, the RISE initiative has had more than ideas. It was founded to save lives, to heal and to give hope to the sick, helpless and downtrodden in the society.
Its mission was to enhance and sustain healthcare and overall human development potential through excellence in interdisciplinary care and patient education.
RISE clinic Nigeria lived not only for health and wellness services but extends to social and human development. It found the gap in the Nigerian community health care and filled it with love, hope and life. It had also engaged in outreaches that brought smiles to the faces of local community members in Nigeria.
Headed by the Medical Director, Dr Onyejiaka Dubem, RICE is a growing team of health professionals which had impacted over 5000 community members. Aside that, it has continued to work with local and international health and academic institutions to provide educational and training opportunities to its staff and professionals in the local community.
To set the record straight, RISE Clinic Nigeria, in 2012, launched its pioneer program ‘Health Fair’ where a 1000 Nigerians received free screening and patient education. In addition, a 100 Nigerian families qualified for low income earners’ health assistance, 265 local and international volunteers were also trained.
Again in July 2013, the enterprise launched the Nigerian epilepsy care advancement program, where 240 epileptic patients were enrolled for a 12months free specialty care.
It also organized a free clinic day for Nigerians which took place in different cities In October 2013. In the outreach, over 2000 Nigerians were diagnosed and provided with patient education. Another 800 high risk individuals were identified and referred to RISE Clinic Nigeria with 85 local and international volunteers trained.
Later in September 2015, the Clinic launched the Anambra business coalition project which became the pioneer public-private partnership for health care in Anambra state.
This partnership achieved collective action in the public and private business sector; merging and management of general hospitals and private owned medical firms which led to Anambra health alliances and the renovation and reopening of the Orumba general hospital.
To curb the menace of stroke in the State, the clinic, in 2018, embarked on a major awareness campaign on stroke management, the event was held across different centers and cities. It also resulted to creation of 42 international and community stroke leadership councils, 447 educated individuals, 344 screened individuals, 11 active treatment groups and also identified 132 people at risk for stroke.
It would be recalled that the Clinic commemorated Nigeria’s independence at 60 and patnered with Anambra business coalition organized, a medical outreach for the people at the newly refurbished Orumba general hospital in October 2020. The people were provided with free medical screening and treatments for common ailments with essential drugs and health education.
