A team of American physicians have begun free medical treatment of residents in Kano state, North West Nigeria.

The exercise which is expected to last for two weeks will carry out surgery on at least 5,000 people and treat another 5,000 out patients.

Leader of the mission, Dr. Chukwuemeka Onwenu, says the mission will not only provide the much needed but barely affordable services to the door step of the people.

The mission he noted, will also afford local health personnel opportunities to learn innovative techniques and procedures form the foreign partners.

Dr. Onwenu said the mission, which comprises 36 professionals, will offer services in general surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, urology and treat eye cases adding that that they will work in Kano for two weeks.

The state Governor, Mr Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, while receiving the doctors at the state government house stated that his government is working round the clock to renovate hospitals in the state and provide them with facilities to reduce suffering, restore health and save lives especially in the rural areas where the poverty rate is higher.

He maintained that the administration has put in place a buoyant Drug Revolving Fund to assume steady supply of qualitative and affordable drugs to all health facilities in Kano, besides waging a serious war against prohibited and counterfeit drugs.

Assorted medicines and equipment worth millions of Naira had already been supplied by the visiting doctors.

The mission was started by four Nigerian physicians based in the U.S. who had a vision to deliver quality medical care to people who cannot afford it.

It also aims to create bridges with physicians in Nigeria to improve delivery of health care and to provide programmes that will sustain the sector.