From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
More than 700 residents of Ilorin Emirate, have benefited from a free medical outreach sponsored by a United Kingdom-based Nigerian, Dr Muideen Onimago.
The outreach, held in Ilorin on Sunday, provided beneficiaries with free medical consultations, laboratory tests, eye examinations, drugs and eyeglasses.
Coordinator of the programme, Dr Ola Ahmed, said the initiative was designed to take quality healthcare to underserved communities while promoting early detection and treatment of diseases.
Ahmed said beneficiaries were screened for hypertension, diabetes, malaria, eye defects and other health conditions.
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“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,” he said.
He disclosed that common ailments detected included hypertension, diabetes, respiratory tract infections, cough, urinary difficulties, diarrhoea and malaria.
According to him, patients requiring further treatment were referred to appropriate health facilities, while those needing surgery had been identified for possible surgical intervention.
“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,” Ahmed added.
He commended Onimago for sponsoring the programme and urged other Nigerians in the diaspora to emulate the gesture.
The Shettima of Ilorin Emirate, Alhaji Sakariyau Onimago, described the sponsor as a benevolent son of the emirate who had remained committed to supporting his people despite living abroad.
A beneficiary, Alhaji Abdullahi Abdulsalam, said the intervention had saved beneficiaries the cost of consultation, tests and medication.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Hajaratu Yakubu of Eruda community, who received eye care services and drugs, expressed gratitude to the organiser for the humanitarian gesture.
