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Residents of Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State, have started receiving free healthcare services through a medical outreach programme organised by the Benjamin Kalu Foundation in partnership with a Taiwanese medical team from the Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps, according to spokesperson of the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives.
According to a statement signed by Levinus Nwabughiogu, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, the initiative which commenced on Wednesday in Bende metropolis, is scheduled to extend to several other communities in the constituency, with the possibility of reaching beyond the local government area.
Nwabughiogu, revealed that the medical mission targets between 5,000 and 10,000 beneficiaries, offering treatment and care for a variety of health conditions.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held in Agbamuzu, headquarters of Bende Local Government Area, the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, PhD, CFR, said the outreach is part of his commitment to placing people and humanity at the centre of his service, reflecting the core mission of his foundation.
He said, “We do this periodically because we understand the needs of our people, and healthcare is one of the most pressing of those needs,” Kalu said. “This year, volunteers from Taiwan, who have spent the last three decades providing humanitarian medical services globally, saw the work we are doing and chose to partner with us to make a greater impact.”
He added that the collaboration is a joint effort between the Benjamin Kalu Foundation and the Taiwanese team to bridge healthcare gaps for underserved populations.
“As we all know, government alone cannot meet every need. As citizens, we also have a duty to contribute to the wellbeing of our people,” he continued. “I began this initiative even before joining public office, inspired by my late mother, who devoted her life to caring for the less privileged. That was how the Benjamin Kalu Foundation was born.”
Kalu further stated that the outreach has grown over the years, now attracting experts from across the globe, including Taiwan, Japan, the United Kingdom, and beyond.
“Our goal is to attend to 5,000 to 10,000 patients during this programme. While we are starting here in Bende, because charity, as they say, begins at home, the medical team will also visit other communities such as Item and Uzuakoli. If time permits, the outreach could be extended to other parts of the state,” he said.
Benjamin Kalu, expressed appreciation to the Taiwanese medical team for their support, stating that their presence would not only address immediate healthcare needs but also contribute to long-term capacity-building.
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