Health
More Than 700 Ilorin Residents Get Free Medical Services
A United Kingdom-based Nigerian, Dr Muideen Onimago, has organised a free medical outreach for more than 700 residents of Ilorin Emirate in Kwara.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the outreach provided free medical check-up, laboratory tests, eye care services, glasses and distribution of drugs.
Speaking on the outreach, the Coordinator, Dr Ola Ahmed, said the intervention was aimed at bringing quality healthcare closer to the underserved and promoting early detection of diseases at the grassroots.
Ahmed said beneficiaries were screened for various health conditions, including blood pressure, blood sugar, malaria and eye defects.
He said the gesture by Onimago was born out of his commitment to give back to his community and support government efforts at improving access to healthcare.
“Many people in our communities cannot afford basic medical tests and eye care services.
“This outreach is to bridge that gap and ensure that people receive timely medical attention,” Ahmed said.
The medical expert added that drugs were freely distributed to beneficiaries based on doctor’s prescriptions, while glasses were given to those with visual impairments.
According to him, cases requiring further medical attention have been referred to appropriate health facilities for follow-up.
Ahmed commended Onimago for sponsoring the outreach and called on other well-meaning indigenes in the diaspora to emulate the gesture.
He explained further that patients who require surgical intervention have been identified and will receive surgery at appropriate health facilities.
“It is difficult for people to access healthcare because out-of-pocket expenditure is a very big challenge for people.
“Even to go to hospital for necessary tests, people will not want to go because it will incur some expenses,” he added.
Ahmed disclosed that some of the common ailments detected at the outreach were hypertension, diabetes, respiratory tract infection, cough, difficulty with urine, diarrhoea and malaria, among others.
In his reaction, the Shettima of Ilorin Emirate, Alhaji Sakariyau Onimago, commended the sponsor and organiser of the medical outreach.
He described Onimago as a benevolent son of the emirate who was known for his philanthropist gesture, adding that in spite of living in the diaspora, he had never forgotten his Nigerian roots.
Onimago also appealed to other well-meaning Nigerians to always give back to their communities.
A beneficiary, Alhaji Abdullahi Abdulsalam, who spoke with NAN, expressed appreciation for the intervention, saying it had saved them the cost of medical consultation and drugs.
He described the outreach as timely, given the current economic challenges, and prayed for more of such interventions in the emirate.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Hajaratu Yakubu, from Eruda community, said she received free eye care services and drugs.
She also prayed for the organiser, commending his humanitarian service to indigents in the community.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
