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By Sunday Ani
Eight Rotary Clubs under District 9111, Zone 6, comprising 10 clubs, have come together to offer free surgical operations to indigent persons in Lagos State.
Flagging off the programme at the AMC Medical Centre in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos State, yesterday, the First District Governor of the District, Dr. Wole Kukoyi, called on the government, well-meaning Nigerians and philanthropic organisations as well as nongovernmental bodies to support Rotary International’s humanitarian initiatives, stressing that such partnerships were crucial in making life easier and more meaningful for the less privileged in society.
The outreach, which kicked off yesterday and is expected to end on March 22, is being financed by the Rotary Clubs of Festac Metropolitan, Satellite, Greenfield Estate, Lagos West, Festac Town, Festac Central, Amuwo-Odofin, and Canal Estate. The clubs pooled resources to fund the programme, ensuring that indigent patients who could not afford high cost of surgery received the necessary medical care at no cost.
Dr. Kukoyi stressed that the cost of medical diagnosis and treatment is often overwhelming for those in need, making such interventions vital. He charged beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity, calling on more individuals and corporate bodies to join hands with Rotary in its life-saving mission. “Partnerships with individuals and organisations committed to saving lives are at the heart of Rotary’s global humanitarian efforts,” he stated.
He further called on the government to recognise and support such initiatives, either through funding, policy making or direct collaboration, to ensure that more vulnerable citizens receive the help they desperately need.
Also, the president of the Rotary Club of Greenfield and zonal president of presidents in Zone 10 comprising 10 clubs, said the initiative followed the increasing rate of such ailments as fibroid, hernia and appendicitis among others in society.
“We discovered that lack of resources for proper care has forced people to take unhealthy concoctions to get cured, thereby compounding the problems.
He noted that 50 patients benefited from the initiative last year, out of which he declared that eight had conceived and given birth. “This year also, we are going to have over 70 surgeries for fibroid, hernia, appendicitis and lump among others.
“It is now a star project and every year, we will be doing it. We don’t even know who the beneficiaries are. We just advertised through social media and fliers and those who responded were taken and treated free of charge,” he said.
Aligning with Achiugo, the president of the Rotary Club of Canal Estate, Ugwu Joseph Anayo, said the initiative was in line with what the Club stands for, which is service above self.
“We are giving free medical care to the indigent in our society. That is what Rotary is all about, helping people we don’t even know but who have medical challenges. Surgeries for fibroid, hernia, appendicitis and lumps are going on here for over 70 patients,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chief Matron of AMC Medical Centre, Omolara Akinsanya, said the hospital had screened patients for various surgeries ranging from fibroid to herniorrhaphy, herniotomy which is collection of fluid in the scrotum, undescended testis, which is going to be pushed down from where it is back to its normal position, and lymphoma which is collection of fatty substances anywhere in the body and excision of breast lump.
Expressing gratitude to the Clubs, Mrs Ngozi Nwachukwu, mother of 12 year-old Onyebuchi Nwachukwu, who was born with a lump on his neck thanked members of the club for their kindness.
She said the boy was born with the lump and that she had tried to remove it but she couldn’t shoulder the financial burden. “I had tried to remove it in the past but I lost my husband along the line and I couldn’t bear the financial burden. I got information about this exercise last year but it was late then. So, when the time for this year came, I was informed earlier. We applied and we were taken and here we are today for the surgery,” the elated mother narrated.
She prayed for the members of the club, saying, “I feel very happy and I pray that anybody that puts his money on this exercise will never witness shame. For making a widow like me to smile, they would never witness shame in their lives. They would keep growing and happiness would be flowing in their lives. God will continue to bless them with more money. I am very happy.”
