Doctor’s Birthday Gift: Free Health for Hundreds
Former NMA Chair Provides Medical and Wellness Services to Indigent Ilorin Residents
Dr Ola Ahmed, a Principal Medical Officer and former Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Kwara has offered free healthcare services to about 500 indigent residents in Ilorin.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that free healthcare is a two-day event, which includes medical and surgical screening, consultation, free eye screening, and distribution of eyeglasses and drugs.
The programme also engages the youths in sports and sensitisation on drug abuse and sexual and reproductive health.
Speaking with newsmen at the medical outreach in Ilorin, Ahmed explained that the programme was a way of marking his birthday by giving back to society.
According to him, free health care intervention is to complement what the government is doing in promoting the health of the citizens.
He observed that accessing healthcare comes with challenges such as funding, ignorance and the Japa syndrome witnessed across the nation, where doctors continue to seek greener pastures outside the country.
Ahmed pointed out that this was an opportunity where health is brought to the doorsteps of the citizens, and doctors can diagnose and offer free treatment.
He added that the elderly, women and children were all beneficiaries of the free healthcare.
Ahmed also appealed to other well-meaning individuals to key in on activities that support the promotion of the well-being and welfare of people in Nigeria.
He advised supporting people with health insurance, as this will cover the healthcare expenses of individuals for a whole year at a subsidised price.
“We can pay for children’s school fees, scholarships for the indigents, textbooks. Our people need help, a lot of people are dying silently,” he appealed.
Also speaking, Dr Salau Hafiz, a Consultant Obstetrician Gynaecologist, at Ayishat Buhari Mother and Child Hospital, Eiyenkonrin, noted that people were screened for malaria parasite, blood sugar and blood pressure test.
He explained that those with eye problems were recommended eyeglasses, while observing that the turn-out of people was very impressive.
Hafiz listed some of the ailments common among the patients including hypertension, diabetes, malaria and respiratory tract infections.
Also, Dr Kudirat Lambe, a Deputy Director with the Kwara Ministry of Health, said that being part of the outreach gives a sense of fulfilment and gratification.
She observed that this is a way of giving back to the community that helps to train and discipline them as children.
In her reaction, a beneficiary, Alhaja Adijat Nuru, said the outreach was highly beneficial because she was able to access healthcare easily.
She explained that doctors were able to diagnose and offer free drugs for her treatment.
Nuru commended the doctor for the yearly initiative and appealed to other well-meaning individuals to organise similar free medical outreaches for the indigents.
In his response, the Community Leader, Alhaji Yusuf Saliu, said Ahmed has always exhibited compassion in the community where he grew up.
He tasked other Nigerians to emulate this good quality and give back to their communities, saying that whatever good you do, will be rewarded by God. ( NAN)
