Wale Jagun & Mariam Akinloye
More than 500 residents of Ikorodu Federal Constituency, on Saturday, benefitted from the free medical outreach initiated by Rep. Babajimi Adegoke Benson, and designed to promote healthy living and provide access to quality healthcare services.
Residents at the health programme held at the Rep. Babajimi Benson Constituency Office, Plot 48, Ebute-Igbogbo Road, Ikorodu, benefitted from General Health Screening & Intervention, Diabetes Screening & Intervention, Vision Screening (with FREE frames), Dental Check, Free Medication, and Health Education.
It would be recalled that hundreds of residents benefited from a similar free medical outreach about a month ago when the lawmaker, through its operational arm, iCare Foundation, partnered Sundabelt Medical, Noella Foundation and ONI Foundation.
Alhaja Odumbo Olabisi, the iCARE Woman Leader, speaking with journalists, said that the medical intervention is facilitated by his boss, to support residents in ascertaining their health conditions.
“My boss is somebody who is passionate about the Ikorodu Federal Constituency. He believes that when we have good health, we can achieve more and go further in life.
“Also, we are in the middle of the year, and there has been a lot of stress from the beginning of the year. So, we need to take time to check our health. This is not to take the place of the general hospital. No! It is more like a health check-up to help people know their current health status.
“Whatever they benefit from here, they can take the results with them and continue their consultation or treatment at whichever hospital they normally use”, she said.
While stating that the initial plans was to attend to 500 residents, the iCare woman leader stated that more people than expected turned-up for the free medical session, and that they were all duly attended to based on the lawmaker’s insistence that no resident must be turned away.
Alhaji Odumbo commended the medical personnel for their patience and professionalism, and enjoined residents needing further medical attention to seek proper care at the general hospital.
“The medical personnel did very well. They tried to bring themselves to our level and did not allowed the influx of people to overwhelm them.
“They tried as much as possible to listen to people’s complaints. They attended to issues that can be managed at the outreach, while those who required further treatment are advised to visit the general hospital or whichever healthcare facility they normally use.
‘Some people have been advised to go for further treatments, while others have been given advice on how to manage their health”.
While assuring that the exercise will be a regular intervention, iCae woman leader emphasised that the exercise will go a long way in preventing sudden death and degeneration of health conditions.
“It will go a long way in impacting the community positively. We have seen cases of sudden death, people collapsing, and other health-related issues becoming increasingly common.
“Early detection can make a big difference. Although, I am not a medical practitioner, but I am a science student, so I understand the importance of early detection.
“So, programmes like this can go a long way in helping people know their health status early and take the necessary steps to protect their health. Ultimately, this will benefit the community as a whole”, she added.
Mrs Onilela Kazeem, a resident of Agric in Ikorodu West LCDA who received glasses and drugs, commended Rep. Benson for the intervention.
“I am very happy with the programme. This man is trying a lot in this community, and it is not only on medical outreach that he has been doing a lot. I am grateful for this gesture. I was giving glasses, and drugs after screenings.
“I am grateful for these glasses which is very expensive. They sell it around N60, 000, but l am having it for free here. I am much grateful for this”, she said.
Another beneficiary who is a resident of Igbogbo, Mrs Abeni Sodiq, who was also screened and provided with drugs, also commended the initiative.
Likewise, Mrs Morenike Adekoya, also a resident of Igbogbo, and Mrs Balogun Toyin, from Radio, Ewuren, Ikorodu, were also full of commendations for the gesture by the Ikorodu federal lawmaker.
