HUNDREDS of people seated excitedly at the General Out-Patents Department at the General Hospital, Ijebu-Igbo, a quiet town in the Eastern Senatorial District of Ogun State.
It was an unusual gathering because not everyone in the crowd came for medical attention or on visit to sick relations in the hospital as it is often the case in the facility. On the contrary, many said they came to witness the free medical services being provided by the Association of Ijebu-Igbo Descendants (AIID) in North America, a socio-cultural group in the diaspora.
Many residents with diverse health challenges like hypertension, cataracts, diabetes and other life-threatening health issues said they are at the venue to access the free medical service.
One of such is 24-year-old Mr Abiodun Olatunbosun, who has been struggling to seek for fund to enable him undergo operation to remove cataract from one of his eyes.
“For two months, I have been going to Ago-Iwoye General Hospital but couldn’t afford the needed money for the operation,” he disclosed.
He said the free surgery by the medical team of the association has provided him with a succor just as he commended members of the diaspora group for their contribution.
President of the Association of Ijebu-Igbo Descendents (IID) in North America, Dr Thomas Olaide Osinowo, said the groups observed that many people in the town could not afford cost of treatments and surgery due to the economic hardship and high cost of medicare in the country.
He said the association’s members decided to return home to mitigate the impact of the economic crisis on the people’s health by organising a free medical outreach for the poor.
“Health is wealth. 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 said.
To organise the drive, he said the association collaborated with the Ijebu-Igbo Annex of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital and the Rotary Club of Ijebu Igbo metro as well as the Nigeria Association of Nurses and Anesthetists.
Spokesperson of the association, Pastor Doyin Owobamirin, however, explained that the outreach was sponsored wholly by the group through donations of members, families and friends of the association.
One of the medical personnel and an eye specialist, Sotunde Abimbola Solu, said surgeries were done for many with cataract, pterygium and other eye cases. He, however, said cataract was the most common among dozens of cases treated.
The mission chairman, Mr. Fola Udueyungbo, an anesthetist, expressed joy working with the medical team throughout the one-week outreach held in three locations in the town.
The Orimolusi of Ijebu Igbo, Oba Lawrence Jayeoba Adebajo, said he and the Council of Obas mobilised the community members to take full advantage of the outreach.
While commending the association, he said such support will save many lives and help the poor who could not afford to pay for surgeries or medication.
Oba Adebajo recounted a story of how a man died recently in the area for his inability to pay for a surgery. He recalled the man repeatedly begged the hospital to help him live but eventually died as he could not pay for the surgery.
Another beneficiary, Mr Tajudeen Alase, said he has been receiving treatment for a particular ailment, unknown to him he has other health issue. “I was diagnosed of another problem and got free treatment at the medical outreach,” he disclosed.
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