In line with the declaration of every November of the year as Family Health Days by the Rotary Club International, the Rotary Club of Ikorodu Metropolitan has organized a free family health outreach to residents of the densely populated Erunwen Community in Ikorodu on Saturday, 2nd November, 2019.
The Rotary Family Health outreach held at the Community Palace witnessed a large turnout of residents comprising of children, youth, aged and, indeed all lovers of good health within the community.
Beneficiaries started trooping into the venue of the free medical services from as early as 10am and continued to throng the venue until past 5pm in the evening.
The Rotary Club of Ikorodu Metropolitan mobilized health professionals made up of Medical Doctors, Nurses and other health professionals screened residents on possible health issues, ranging from blood pressure, HIV, Diabetes, Children de-worming, Dental Care, Eye cataract tests and treatments, Vitamin A & B Administration as well as Malaria screening and treatment.
Other medical services rendered were the free distribution of insecticide treatment nets, sanitary towels for girls, dental care and family planning / counseling among others.
In a chat with Ikorodu Oga Radio, President of the Rotary Club of Ikorodu Metropolitan (2019-2020), Rotarian Taofiq Kolawole Lasisi noted that, ‘today’s outreach is aimed at promoting the total health of the whole family. We have brought a team of seasoned health professionals to Erunwen community to screen residents of possible ailments and provide free treatments against diagnosed diseases. We will also give out free drugs, insecticide treated nets and sanitary pads to young girls’, he said.
‘We chose to come to Erunwen community this year, having being to other communities in Ikorodu during our past medical outreaches. We have been to Igbogbo, Ebute, Ogolonto and other areas. Our coming to Erunwen is a means of expanding our tentacles to cover other parts of Ikorodu that we have not been able to reach in the past’, he added.
Also, Chairman of the 2019 Family Health Day planning Dr Olusola Olalude remarked that, ‘so far, I must say we are impressed by the results of tests conducted on many of the beneficiaries in this community. Their blood pressure readings, glucose level and hepatitis test results have been mainly negative. This shows that many of the residents are medically informed and this is very encouraging’.
Dr Olusola Olalude further called on Nigerians to take their health very seriously by undergoing routine medical tests and examinations, as this will help them maintain good health status.
He added that, annual Rotary Family Health Day outreach was aimed at bringing health closer to the people at the suburbs. He also charged well-meaning Nigerians to imbibe the culture of giving back to their community, the same way Rotary Club is doing globally.
Speaking on the sideline of the medical outreach, a past president of the Rotary Club of Ikorodu Metropolitan, Rotarian Akin Odusola has called on the government at all levels to ensure adequate provision of drugs in all public health facilities as a way of guaranteeing good health for the populace.
‘Nigeria must copy what Rotary Club International is doing. Government must ensure they provide drugs and other necessary health facilities available for the people at the grassroots, through government health facilities, especially the Primary Health Centres’, he noted.
One of the beneficiaries of the free medical outreach, Mrs Bimbo Ojo was full of thanks to the Rotary Club of Ikorodu Metropolitan for the selfless initiative.
‘This is the first time a free health outreach like this will take place in this community. Many people have benefited from this programme. We really appreciate the Rotary Club for this initiative. On behalf of every beneficiary, I say a big thank you to the organizers’, she concluded.
