Filling the community void in Mount Isa is Medical Centre general practitioner Dr Michael Mbaogu who is committed to “helping people to make a difference to underprivileged people” via rural health. 

“My goal is to provide high quality care and increase access to people in Mt Isa and surrounding communities because clients come from as far away as Queensland and the Northern Territory border and surrounding cattle stations to visit with Mt Isa being is the largest town in the lower gulf,” he said. 

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“People come every couple of weeks to do their shopping and see a doctor as well.” 

Dr Mbaogu said they brought the practice in 2014 to improve health outcomes.

“We saw there was a need in Mt Isa,” he said. “We implemented extended trading hours and brought in a range of services just because we wanted to improve community access to GPs.” 

In addition to having an interest in working with remote communities, Dr Mbaogu enjoys assisting patients suffering form skin conditions, skin cancer and  has an interest in chronic disease management.

“There are a lot of people working in cattle station and the mines who are developing skin conditions and we have to look after them,” he said.    

Dr Mbaogu advised people to  keep health as their number one priority.

“You only have one life and one ticket of health and if you don't look after it you can't buy it off the shelf,” he said. “The way is to exercise, moderate your drink and how much you eat. We have lack of education and people not being compliant and given the wrong direction of doctors.” 

Dr Mbaogu said the medical centre is “a one-stop-shop” with specialised services from dietician’s to orthopedic specialists.

“We also do occupational medicals for the mines and for workplace injuries,” he said.

The centre provides comprehensive services with a focus on women’s and men’s health.