Date: 2016-06-16

Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, Access to Basic medical Care, ABC medical, Foundation, in conjunction with the management of the University of Ilorin, Unilorin, will screen all female staff and students for breast and cervical cancer in a bid to promote good health among members of the university community.

Chief Operating Officer of the foundation, Mrs. Dolapo Oyedipe, disclosed this during a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali.

She explained that the foundation, owned by the wife of the governor of Oyo State, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, has a mission to provide an innovative, first-class, free, sustainable and practical health care system for the people of Oyo State in particular and the country in general.

Oyedipe added that the focus of the foundation is to improve access to primary healthcare services by overcoming barriers and identifying simple solutions to resolve long-standing issues on healthcare delivery in the country. "ABC medical Foundation provides free quality healthcare services to all residents of Oyo State. It provides these services to make healthcare accessible particularly to low-income earners and rural residents who make up two-third of the population." According to her, "the NGO also focuses on reducing the impact of non-communicable diseases such as breast and cervical cancer in the communities by raising awareness and providing screening.'' She, however, thanked the vice-chancellor for graciously approving the free screening programme, noting that the University of Ilorin is living up to its slogan as the 'better by far university'. In his response, the vice-chancellor thanked the wife of the governor for caring for the needs of humanity and for the hand of partnership she had extended to the university. Prof. Ambali disclosed that the establishment of a Medical Assessment Centre in the university is a sign of the commitment of the management to the well-being of staff and students, saying "We prefer to prevent diseases than manage it". He stressed that the screening exercise is a welcome development, assuring that the medical team would work with the foundation to ensure the success of the programme.