3,000 Ogbomoso residents benefit from medical outreach

No fewer than 3,000 residents of Ogbomoso and environs have benefited from a free medical check-up facilitated by an indigenous association, Ogbomoso First Group (O’First).

The three-day medical outreach commenced on Tuesday at the O’1st Centre, Oke-Osuru in Ogbomoso.

Supreme reports that the test conducted included blood sugar, blood pressure, COVID-19, HIV, dental, optical among others, while drugs were dispensed and eye glasses recommended.

The outreach was held in conjunction with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA).

Others were Oyo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (OYSACA) and Second Chance Smile Global Foundation.

Supreme also reports that the free medical check-up was anchored by about 100 doctors from different medical specialisations, more than 100 nurses and 10 practitioners of natural medicine.

Chief Adebayo Babatunde, Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC) said about 6,000 eyeglasses, 3,500 COVID-19 test kits, 3,000 HIV/AIDS rapid test kits were among medical facilities used at no financial cost to the beneficiaries.

He said that test kits would be administered by several medical doctors, naturopathic practitioners, dental and optometric surgeons, among other health practitioners.

“Having helped residents through the programme to diagnose different ailments, the group would be in touch with beneficiaries to offer possible assistance.

“O’first is determined to positively uplift people of Ogbomoso,” he said.

Sir Olusegun Adekunle, the Chairman, Ogbomoso First Group, said the medical outreach was organised for the poor, weak, sick, aged and the vulnerable.

“It is an outreach meant to bring awareness on health issues to support government to meet the expectations of the citizens.

“It provides a platform for various categories of citizens to check their health status, receive counselling, go through cost-free consultation and receive referrals to tertiary health institutions,” he said.

Adekunle said that provision was made in conjunction with NDLEA, NACA, OYSACA and US-based professor of oral and maxillofacial pathology, Oluwole Ajagbe, who is a native of Ogbomoso, to carry out the exercise.

He said that several doctors, nurses and other experts were engaged to attend to the people, adding no fewer than 3,000 people were expected to benefit from the programme.

“There is a pharmacy manned by pharmacists and public health workers. They dispense drugs such as anti-malaria drugs, analgesics and others to people, after consultations and tests.

“These tests include blood sugar and other things. We also take their vital signs and advise them if there is any form of danger, such as high blood pressure or not.

“The good side of it is that the National Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS is here. The agency donated rapid test kits, as part of their community engagement process,” he said.

Prof. Oluwole Ajagbe of Second Chance Smile Global Foundation said the foundation partnered O’first because the initiative was laudable.

Ajagbe, a US-based professor of oral and maxillofacial pathology, expressed the hope that the partnership would continue, saying it offered him opportunity to give back to the society.

Supreme reports that journalists and security agents at the event also benefitted from medical consultations, tests and were given reading glasses at no financial costs to them.

The three-day event is a joint project of O’first, Ladoke Akinola University Teaching Hospital, Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso and Second Chance Smile Global Foundation.

Supreme also reports that the beneficiaries were drawn from the five local governments in Ogbomoso zone, namely Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South, Orire, Surulere and Ogo Oluwa.