AWBA-OFEMILI Community in Anambra State has launched a major health campaign to combat Buruli Ulcer, a devastating but neglected tropical disease.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Awba-Ofemili Development Union (ADU) Health Committee, brings together key partners including the Nigerian Red Cross Society and the Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency.
Scheduled for Thursday, October 23, 2025 (Nkwo Market Day) at the Civic Centre, the campaign, themed: “Buruli Ulcer (Elu-Ulee): Know the Signs, Stop the Spread,” aims to raise public awareness, promote early detection, and improve hygiene practices to stop the spread of the disease.
According to Ogbuefi (Sir) Remmy Nweke, Chairman of the ADU Health Committee (AHC) and Convener of the Awba-Ofemili Health Volunteers Team (AHVT), the campaign marks “a major step in our collective effort to safeguard the health and well-being of our people through knowledge, early detection, and preventive care.”
The programme will feature health sensitization talks by medical experts and Red Cross educators; free blood pressure and sugar level checks for residents; donation of First Aid Boxes to local institutions; and the establishment of Red Cross chapters in schools, including Community Secondary School, Awba-Ofemili, Progressive Primary School Awba-Ofemili and Central Primary School Awba-Ofemili among others.
Ogbuefi Nweke expressed appreciation to the Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency, the Nigerian Red Cross Society, and the Office of the ADU President-General for their partnership and technical support.
He also called on residents, community leaders, and schools to turn out en-masse and benefit from the programme’s free health services.
He emphasized that “with collective awareness and early intervention, Buruli Ulcer can be effectively controlled, saving lives and preventing disabilities among our people.”
Dignitaries expected at the event include officials from the ASPHCDA, representatives of the Anambra State Ministry of Health, traditional and religious leaders, teachers, students, and health professionals.
The Awba-Ofemili Health Committee (AHC) is a community-based initiative under the Awba-Ofemili Development Union (ADU) dedicated to advancing public health awareness, supporting local healthcare facilities, and fostering humanitarian engagement through collaborations such as the Nigerian Red Cross Society.
