In a move to ensure access to medical care to the less privileged, the Rotary Club of Ikorodu metropolitan recently conducted another round of its free family health outreach to residents of the densely populated Erunwen community in Ikorodu.
The outreach was in line with the declaration of every November of the year as Family Health Days by the Rotary Club International.
Taofiq Kolawole, president of the Rotary Club of Ikorodu metropolitan said that the outreach is aimed at promoting the total health of the whole family.
“We have brought a team of seasoned health professionals to Erunwen community to screen residents of possible ailments and provide free treatments against diagnosed diseases. We will also give out free drugs, insecticide-treated nets and sanitary pads to young girls’, he said.
According to Kolawole, We chose to come to Erunwen community this year, having been to other communities in Ikorodu during our past medical outreaches.
“We have been to Igbogbo, Ebute, Ogolonto, and other areas. Our coming to Erunwen is a means of expanding our tentacles to cover other parts of Ikorodu that we have not been able to reach in the past”, he said.
The outreach attracted a sizeable crowd consisting of young, old, women, men and the elderly saw the health facility filled to its capacity and other health professionals screened residents on possible health issues, ranging from blood pressure, HIV, Diabetes, Children de-worming, Dental Care, Eye cataract tests and treatments, Vitamin A & B Administration as well as Malaria screening and treatment.
Other medical services rendered were the free distribution of insecticide-treated nets, sanitary towels for girls, dental care and family planning /counselling among others.
Also speaking at the event, Olusola Olalude, a medical practitioner and chairman of 2019 Family Health Day planning said that the outreach is bringing health closer to the people in the suburbs.
“I call on Nigerians to take their health very seriously by undergoing routine medical tests and examinations, as this will help them maintain good health status,” he said.
Olalude also charged well-meaning Nigerians to imbibe the culture of giving back to their community, the same way Rotary Club is doing globally.
In the same vein, Akin Odusola, past president of the Rotary Club of Ikorodu Metropolitan said that government at all levels should ensure adequate provision of drugs in all public health facilities as a way of guaranteeing good health for the populace.
“Nigeria must copy what Rotary Club International is doing. The government must ensure they provide drugs and other necessary health facilities available for the people at the grassroots, through government health facilities, especially the Primary Health Centres,” he noted.
Commenting, one of the beneficiaries Bimbo Ojo was full of thanks to the Rotary Club of Ikorodu Metropolitan for the selfless initiative saying many people have benefited from the programme.
ANTHONIA OBOKOH
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