Dear ENA Community,

I crave your indulgence in asking all Efik in the United States to join me in welcoming home the ENA Medical Mission Team, after achieving a new milestone of a medical mission in Cross River State.

The huge success of this maiden mission is the result of very dedicated members of the Health & Wellness Subcommittee under the leadership of Dr.  Felicia Bassey Akamune.  We salute all the volunteers who paid their way to make this mission possible.

The reactions of those I have recently spoken with in Calabar convey a sense of gratitude to all Efik in the US for this spirit of generosity and love extended to the less fortunate in our state.  In spite of this initial success, a lot of work still needs to be done in the future and the team has identified some areas that need improvements for the next mission.

We are most indebted to a very humbled Obong of Calabar, His Eminence, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu-V, the likes not seen in a very long time, as the ENA local partners.  With this initial goal achieved, we will continue to explore other collaborative efforts with the Obong’s Palace in the future.

The medical mission kicked off from the Obong’s Palace on Monday, October 17, 2011.  The Palace provided most of the advance rural media coverage and logistical support, which included additional transportation and lunches, served daily in the field for the mission team.  The mission ended at the Obong’s Palace on Saturday October 22, 2011 with a reception for the medical team.

ENA is equally very appreciative to His Excellency, The State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke and his team, for the warm hospitality extended to all our volunteers.  This gesture of goodwill included providing accommodation, feeding, security, transportation, and the use of several medical facilities as staging centers in each of the locality visited by the medical team.

The Governor’s Special Assistant on Diaspora Matters, Dr.  Ikpeme Ebong and the Health Commissioner, Dr.  Edet Ikpi, worked very closely with ENA Health & Wellness Subcommittee for several months to ensure that all the logistical details including media coverage were worked out ahead of time.  We are equally grateful to each of them and their staff.

The Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) received a donation estimated at over $20,000.00 for dental equipment and furniture.  This generosity was made possible by the auspices of our National Vice President, Dr.  Anne Edet Wagner through her private Dentist.  The medical team was very well received at the university campus.  Our gratitude goes to the Vice Chancellor, Professor Efiom Ene-Obong and his staff.

Mma Dr.  Felicia and her subcommittee have been working diligently in establishing a network of local Doctors in Calabar to provide the follow-up visits to those patients the medical team examined.

My fellow members, we are at the threshold of improving the quality of life for our brothers and sisters back home by committing to volunteer at least on one medical mission.  We do have a moral responsibility to turn this “First real investment in the Health and Wellness at home, into a yearly commitment” for ENA.  We no longer can afford to take a back seat and allow poverty and the lack of access to basic healthcare needs to continue to take the lives of our growing and aging population.  I’m therefore signing up for the next medical mission, please, join me in signing up too.

Finally, once again I would like to recognize the following ambassadors of ENA on this just concluded maiden medical mission.  They are Dr.  Felicia Bassey Akamune, Dr.  Veronica Okon Archbong, Dr.  Chris Effiong, Elder Awatt Awatt, Mr.  Tony Henshaw, Ms.  Helen Adu, Mrs.  Joans Effiong, Ms Claudette Helen William Duke, all the non Efik volunteers from the US and all our local partners, including Doctors and Nurses.  Also, let’s express our thanks to Dr.  Ekanem Ikpi Braide, for her total commitment to this mission and Princess (Sen.) Florence Ita Giwa for her continued generosity and support by hosting the team in her home.

Sincerely,
Paul O.  Bassey-Duke,
National President, ENA