Pathcare Laboratories, partners target to close healthcare gaps

Recently, PathCare Laboratories in collaboration with partners have decided to tackle the challenge of quality healthcare by providing same for the people of Alimosho LCDA in Lagos State, as a way of alleviating the problem.

The 2016 Doctors On Air Medical Mission, a healthcare initiative of the foremost Nigerian Pathology tests outfit attended to over 2000 rural dwellers, offering free qualitative consultation, diagnosis and treatment with the help of over 60 medical doctors, above 25 corporate bodies and many other individual volunteers.

The managing director of Pathcare Laboratories, Pamela Ajayi, during her keynote address, spent time explaining to the residents of the LCDA why they should take personal responsibility for their health. “We know that the economy is down and most of us are struggling. So the big question is: how do we keep ourselves and our families healthy, so that at least, the costs that come with illness can be avoided?”

Ajayi further explained that knowing one’s health status and early detection help to prevent diseases like stroke, cancer and even sudden death. She also added that raising health consciousness among the residents is one of the purposes of the initiative, urging them to take a full advantage of the privilege the program offers.

This year, PathCare partners comprising hospitals, specialized clinics, pharmaceutical companies, pharmacies, humanitarian organisations and financial institutions. Different medical experts in pathology, dermatology, hepatology, ophthalmology, optometry, oncology, paediatrics, dentistry etc. were on ground and offered free consultation, diagnosis and treatment of various health conditions from common cold to cancer. Elaborate health talks that touched on different diseases were offered to residents all day in both English and Yoruba languages by experts. Free drugs, worth millions of naira were also distributed.

The Sole Administrator of Alimosho LCDA, Ganiu Quadri, reiterated “Health is wealth”. “We cannot fully estimate the economic value of what PathCare and their partners have done for the people of Alimosho LCDA. It goes beyond today and has greater ramifications for governance than one can imagine. No society can progress when the people are sick. So health becomes the number one priority for any government to ensure that every other aspect of life works fine in the society.” He added.

A senior citizen and beneficiary of the initiative, who simply gave her name as Habibat could not hide her excitement as she went from one medical booth to another with enthusiasm. When asked, she simply said in Yoruba “this program is an answer to my prayers.” She claimed that she had rallied her entire household including her grandchildren to take advantage of the rare privilege, and she is happy and grateful that the organisers have not disappointed her in any way. The reaction of a petty trader, Nkechi Onuigbo, was not far as she said “I closed my shop today so that my children and I could be here. It is not every day that this kind of opportunity comes. I want to thank PathCare and all the doctors. God will continue to bless them,” Nkechi said.