By Chinelo Obogo
A US-based Nigerian pastor, Akintunde Phillips, has donated foodstuff to widows and offered free healthcare to the residents of Obalende area of Lagos State.
Philip, who held his annual three-day missionary programme entitled: ‘Let My People Go’, through the Apostle Phillips Ministries, donated food items and clothing to widows in the community then followed with a ‘Back to School’ outreach where about 400 school bags and stationeries were given to school children in two schools
On the final day of the event, no fewer than 1,000 residents in the Obalende area of Lagos State attended to received free medical screenings, drugs and food items. The outreach was organised to support free health services to the indigent, promote evangelism and good values in the community.
The medical team which consisted of different sections were on ground attending to people at the event. There was also the crusade session where counselling and prayers were held and free food items were distributed to all participants.
Phillips said the programme was timely given the current economic situation and that people need a lot of support from the government as well as individuals. He also mentioned that God laid it in his heart to come back to Nigeria and help the less privileged.
During the medical session, one of the healthcare professionals, Eyinade Adewale, said: “The target is to reach 1,000 residents and so far 400 people have been attended to. We have about three departments here; we have general consultations, the eyes team and the dental team as well.”
Another doctor, Bayere Solomon, said: “We have seen various categories of persons but there are a few surgical cases we have seen. We have seen a case of a hernia and what we do is to get their phone numbers because there is a provision for them to be taken care of. We can’t do it here because we didn’t come with the equipment. After this conference, the organisers of the outreach will reach out to them and take them to the hospital where the surgery will be done free of charge.
“Majority of people are conscious of their health but the economic realities make it look like it is not so. The advice I will give is that we should take advantage of any opportunity that we see. Personally, I have seen that most people who have gone ahead of others are trying to look for one or two ways to give back to society.
“In the past few months, I have been involved in many outreaches sponsored by Nigerians and most Nigerians want to contribute their little quota to give back, so we can take advantage of such opens available to us.”