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• …Oba, beneficiaries laud Diaspora group for intervention
Excitement filled the streets of Ijebu-Igbo, a serene town in Ogun State recently, as dozens of its indigenes in the Diaspora returned home to provide free medical care and health service to the people.
The week-long medical outreach was organised by the Association of Ijebu Igbo Descendants (AIID) in North America, as an immediate response to the impact of economic hardship on health in the country and to help low-income earners and, ordinary people in the area.
President of the association, Dr Thomas Olaide Osinowo said the group realised that good health was an invaluable asset to humanity. He noted that surviving any hardship requires good health, as well as proper and regular Medicare.
“Only those who are healthy work well, earn income and pay taxes to government. It’s in view of this fact that we decided to rescue our people who cannot afford the cost of undergoing medical check-up or pay for surgery and drugs,” Osinowo explained.
He said the association decided to carry out free surgeries for ordinary people affected by hernia, various kinds of lump as well as cataract. He explained that the medical outreach also covers consultation, provision of free medications for diabetes, hypertension and a host of other ailments. They also donated eye glasses to those in need of support for improved vision.
He said it was the first time the association was delivering such support despite previous efforts to do so in the past.
The mission chairman, Mr. Fola Udueyungbo, an anaesthetist said the medical outreach was wholly financed by the association through donations from members, friends and family members. He said the association also collaborated with Ijebu-Igbo Annex of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital and the Rotary Club of Ijebu Igbo metro.
“We also partnered with the Nigeria Association of Nurses and Anaesthetists,” he added.
The outreach held simultaneously in three locations at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, OOUTH, Ijebu Igbo Annex, Obada, General Hospital, Oke Ope and Catholic Hospital, Oke Agbo in Ijebu Igbo town over a period of five days.
The paramount rule of Ijebu Igbo, Oba Lawrence Jayeoba Adebajo said he and the entire Council of Obas mobilised the community members to take full advantage and derive maximum benefit from the medical outreach.
He commended the intervention of the indigene in the Diaspora. He noted that the medical support will save many lives and help the poor who could not afford to pay for surgeries or medication.
A retired clergyman, Rev. Sam Bamgbose, said the intervention has given hope to the hopeless and helpless people.
“I commend the organisers and pray that God will continue to bless them as they are giving back to the society, out of what they have acquired in life” he declared. He also commended the medical personnel for their professional conduct and human face in the way they attend to patients
A 24-year-old eye patient, Abiodun Olatunbosun said he could not treat his eye problem in a public hospital two months ago due to lack of money. He said the association has helped him to overcome his trouble now with the free medical treatment by the association.
