At least one thousand people have benefited from free medical treatment in Bonthe Island as part of a one-week program undertaken by the Nigerian Graduate Fellowship (NCGF), Africa Vision Track House (AVTH) and Pro-Health International.

The sixteen-man medical team arrived in the country on Sunday 28th February 2010.

Executive Director of AVTH, Dr. Okono-Umoren told journalists that their visit to the Bonthe Government Hospital in Bonthe lasted for four days.

“From Bonthe, we returned to Freetown and undertook a two-day free medical treatment at the Lumley Government Hospital and Dworzak Health Center” he explained.

According to him, NCGF is an organization comprised of Christian intellectuals, who are committed to using their enormous resources and expertise for public good.

He described poverty as one of the main cause of illness in the Bonthe Island, whilst explaining that many of the women residing there have poor gynecological history because of poverty and non-availability of skilled human resource.

President of NCGF, Dr. Godwin Uwaoma, stressed the need to improve health services whilst advising Sierra Leone Government needs to galvanize more resources to improve access of the people to health, social and educational services. 

He reiterated that the high level of poverty and deprivation are responsible for the prevalence of diseases, especially infant and maternal mortality.

He said many of the patients who receive treatment have history of malnutrition, massive hernia, dental decay, and eye problems. He ended that the donation of drugs, bibles, and other materials to the people of Bonthe Island formed part of their visit.