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By Kehinde Aderemi
A Lagos-based non-governmental organisation, Goldcrest Family Centre (GCFC), recently offered free health services to residents of Akesan, a prominent community in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The health summit was part of the annual programme by Goldcrest Family Centre to cater to the health needs of people at the grassroots.
The event, held at 14 Oyelami Street, Akesan, Lagos, coincided with the 2025 edition of World Health Day.
Residents of the community came in large numbers to participate in the free health summit. The GCFC medical team attended to all who were present, including the elderly and young ones.
President of Goldcrest Family Centre, Reverend Agatha Chukwura, said the health summit was an annual event organised to take care of the health needs of people in the community.
According to her, it was part of the organisation’s mandate to impact the lives of the people of the community positively.
Reverend Agatha explained that it was the first time the organisation was visiting the community but was impressed by the turnout of the people.
She added that the large turnout indicated that many people in the community need medical support and help.
The cleric explained that the health summit was designed to offer free eye tests, blood sugar level checks, provision and distribution of drugs, and health tips to the people of the community.
“For the past 22 years, Goldcrest Family Centre has been impacting people’s lives through the health summit,” she said.
“We are here in Akesan community to take care of the health needs of the people. From what I see here today, it’s obvious that many people gathered here could not afford the high cost of drugs in the country and they find it difficult to access proper health facilities.
“Many of the attendees were found to be engaging in self-medication, which could endanger their health and lead to death. The medical team examined, diagnosed, and treated the people with drugs from reputable pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria.
“The GCFC team also had opticians who examined eyes and gave eye-glasses freely to those with eye problems. They conducted HIV tests, checked blood sugar levels, and treated diabetes, hypertension, and malaria,” she stated.
Dr Lincoln Chibuzo, an optician, commended Goldcrest Family Centre for the initiative, saying it would go a long way in assisting the people of the community who could not afford healthcare expenses.
“Government at all levels must also support NGOs that are credible like the Goldcrest Family Centre in sustaining this programme and many others that have great impact on the people of the society,” he added.
Dr Muhammad Mary from the Lagos State Agency for the Control of Aids (LSACA) said her team joined the Goldcrest Family Centre to sensitise people about their HIV status and provide advice on prevention.
“We joined the Goldcrest Family Centre team as part of our efforts to sensitise people of their HIV status.
“For instance, if they are positive, we recommend them to government facilities where they can be treated and get their medication free of charge and if they are negative we also encourage them and give them advice on how to stay healthy,” she stated
The programme coordinator for Chike Okoli Foundation, Mrs Oby Adimachukwu said most of the people they attended to had high blood pressure, likely due to negligence of their health status and lifestyles.
“We are here to check their body mass index, blood sugar and give necessary advice and medication. We advise them on how they can manage their health, the food they can be eating as they grow old and how they can live a healthy life,” she said.
The programme also featured the distribution of free drugs, eye-glasses, and other medications to the people present at the summit.
Beneficiaries, including 78- year-old Mrs Aruna Ajoke, expressed gratitude for the free health services, thanking the organisers for bringing medical care to their doorsteps.
“I was one of the beneficiaries of this health summit. The doctors conducted series of tests on me and after that they gave me drugs free of charge.
“This was the first time I have this opportunity in this community and I want to appreciate the organisers for bringing this free health services to our doorsteps. God will continue to bless them,” she stated
