Date: 2018-08-27

No fewer than 500 people have benefited from a free healthcare services in Omu-Aran, Irepodun LGA of Kwara, under the Aro Bamgbose Foundation's Free Medical Outreach. The two-day biennial free healthcare services, which involved tests, diagnosis and treatment of different ailments including eye examination and care, is the tenth in the series since 2013.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the foundation is a Kwara based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) with a vision to make positive impact on the less-privilege, especially at the grassroots.

Its Coordinator, Dr Musa Bello, said that it was a programme set up to coincide with the Sallah, Christmas and New Year periods in order to cover large number of beneficiaries.

According to him, the programme attracted residents from the three wards of Omu-Aran and other neighbouring communities of Arandun, Ilofa, Oke-Onigbin, Oro, Ipetu, Oyun, among others.

He said that the beneficiaries also received detailed counseling on fire outbreak and management as well as enlightenment on good hygiene against unwarranted infection.

Bello said that the initiative was a product of painstaking and in-depth research on healthcare development and challenges in remote towns and villages over a period of time.

"Apart from free diagnosis, treatment and drugs, beneficiaries were also offered basic tips and rudiments on precautionary measure so as not to aggravate their health conditions.

"This became very important after we have run tests for them to know their health status, which is one of the basics of the Foundation's free healthcare outreach.

"Prevalent among the diseases treated included malaria, typhoid fever, hypertension, arthritis and diabetes, eye ailment in that order," he said.

Bello pointed out that the programme was basically targeted at bringing healthcare delivery closer to people in the rural communities, especially the less privileged.

Bello said that the foundation was in the process of making a comprehensive documentation and analysis of its medical findings over the years as a reference point for improving healthcare delivery.

"The free healthcare services are designed to complement the government's efforts aimed at bringing healthcare delivery closer to the rural communities.

"Through the initiative we were able to discover that malaria, arthritis and hypertension are more prevalent among the people. "Many of the beneficiaries, especially those from 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," he said.

In his remarks, Chief kunle Oyinloye, the Chairman of the Foundation, said that the programme was his way of contributing to the development of the society.

Oyinloye, who is also the Managing Director, Infrastructure Bank, Abuja, urged Nigerians to always avail themselves of the benefit of free healthcare services being provided nationwide.

"I got to know that many people, as a result of financial challenges, have turned away from hospitals in seeking medical assistance.

"Many of them have become bed-ridden and lost hope, even over an ailment that could not cost more than N1, 000 to treat and manage.

"So, it is our hope that if we can assist to bear their medical needs to some extent, they can then channel their resources to other pressing domestic needs," he added.

Mr Azeez Ademola, a civil servant and Mrs Esther Bamidele, a trader, both beneficiaries, described the initiative as "unprecedented and timely." (NAN)