No fewer than 500 persons were treated of different ailments in Omu-Aran, Kwara, during a two-day free healthcare service provided by a Non-Governmental Organisation, Aro Bamgbose Foundation.

Mr Musa Bello, Coordinator of Aro Bamgbose Free Healthcare Services Empowerment Programme in Omu-Aran, Kwara, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Omu-Aran.

Bello said that the programme, which ended on Saturday, attracted people from three wards in Omu-Aran town and other adjoining communities of Oke-Onigbin, Oko and Ipetu.

He said that part of the empowerment programme was a health talk to educate and sensitise the people on breast cancer and other related ailments.

Bello said most of the beneficiaries received free medical tests, treatment and drugs for diseases like Malaria, typhoid fever, hypertension and diabetes.

The coordinator added that the programme was basically aimed at improving the life expectancy of less privileged people in the society.

He said the programme would also assist the people to know their health status and take precautionary measures to avert the escalation of bad health conditions. Bello said the programme was being organised to coincide with the Eid-el-Kabir and Christmas periods, in order to achieve a wider coverage.

He praised the effort of the town's traditional ruler, Oba Charles Ibitoye, religious and union leaders for ensuring the large turn-out of beneficiaries.

"Many of the people, especially in remote villages and communities, are ignorant of their health conditions.

"This is why the foundation organised this programme as part of its support to ensure unhindered access to improved healthcare delivery to the people at the grassroots," he said

Chief Adekunle Oyinloye, Chairman and sole financier of the foundation, said the programme was his own way of "giving back to the society".

He urged Nigerians to always avail themselves of the benefit of free healthcare services being provided nationwide.

"I got to know that many people, especially in communities, have turned away from hospitals to seek medical assistance as a result of financial constraints.

"any of them have become incapacitated and lost hope, even over an ailment that cannot cost more than N1, 000 to treat and manage.

"I now realised that if we take care of the medical needs of the people, they can then channel their resources to other things as education and welfare of their wards," he said. (NAN)