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By Bianca Iboma-Emefu
Total Life Concern (TLC), has conducted a free medical outreach for approximately 150 widows in Ikate, Lagos. The beneficiaries, who traveled from Ajah, Surulere, Ikorodu, and surrounding areas, were provided with food and transportation to ensure their participation in the life-changing health services.
A legal practitioner and Convener of the Total Life Concern Foundation, Mrs. Edirin Essiet, explained that this is an annual initiative aimed at supporting vulnerable widows with free medical care. “We do this every year to ensure that widows who are most in need receive essential health services.”
She acknowledged Pastor Tobi Popoola of MFM Youth Church, Lekki, who played a pivotal role in facilitating the outreach by sending a dedicated medical team from the church. “This team worked tirelessly to ensure that community members had access to essential healthcare services. They arrived well-prepared, bringing with them a comprehensive assortment of medicines and medical equipment crucial for both diagnosis and treatment.
“His team offered a range of medical services, including general health check-ups, screenings for common ailments, and consultations with healthcare professionals. The outreach not only focused on immediate medical interventions but also aimed to educate participants about preventive health measures and the importance of regular health screenings.
“Representatives from I SEE Eye Foundation, Opal Medical Center, and All Smiles Dental provided comprehensive services, including dental scaling and polishing, eye screenings, and consultations. All widows received dental care and 20 of them had scaling and polishing. The widows underwent general health assessments. Essiet expressed gratitude to the partners, emphasizing that all services were entirely free of charge.”
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She called on Nigerians to support widows, especially in accessing medical care and health insurance schemes. “Many widows are struggling with health issues they are unaware of, simply trying to make ends meet. It is crucial that we come together to support their health needs. We appeal to the government, private sector, and individuals to help us do more for these vulnerable women.”
Essiet urged the government to establish free healthcare services for widows, particularly those in rural areas, highlighting the case of a widow whose dangerously high sugar levels were detected during the outreach. “We want to see a comprehensive, free healthcare system that allows widows to access medical services from start to finish,” she emphasized.
Also, a healthcare professional, Dr. Eucharia Egbo, involved in the outreach describing the medical activities, said, “Our team conducted checks on blood pressure, blood sugar levels, malaria tests, eye screenings, dental examinations, and provided medications and health advice.” She highlighted the importance of lifestyle education and cautioned against self-medication, advocating for consulting healthcare professionals before taking any drugs.
Egbo also discussed the role of traditional herbs, noting that while the World Health Organization (WHO) is exploring integrating traditional medicine into mainstream healthcare, misuse and abuse of local herbs pose risks. “People often take herbs without proper knowledge or prescription, which can be dangerous. It’s essential to seek trained practitioners’ guidance,” she warned.
A general practitioner, Dr. Faleye Odundare-Stephen, commended the initiative, emphasizing the importance of early detection of health conditions such as hypertension. “Many widows discovered they had health issues they were unaware of, which is a positive step toward treatment.” He advised against self-medication or reliance on local herbs, citing potential side effects, especially on vital organs like the liver.
“The medical outreach by Total Life Concern Foundation has significantly impacted the health and well-being of the widows involved. Our goal is to continue supporting these women and advocate for accessible, quality healthcare for all vulnerable populations,” Essiet concluded.
