A United Kingdom-based Nigerian, Dr Muideen Onimago, has organised a free medical outreach for over 500 residents of Ilorin Emirate in Kwara State.

The outreach, held in Ilorin on Sunday, provided free medical check-up, laboratory tests, eye-care services and distribution of drugs and eye glasses.

Speaking on the outreach, the Coordinator, Dr Ola Ahmed, said the intervention was aimed at bringing quality healthcare closer to the underserved and promoting early detection of diseases at the grassroots.

Mr Ahmed said beneficiaries were screened for various health conditions, including blood pressure, blood sugar, malaria and eye defects.

He said the gesture by Mr Onimago was borne out of his commitment to give back to his community and support government efforts at improving access to healthcare.

“Many people in our communities cannot afford basic medical tests and eye care services. This outreach is to bridge that gap and ensure that people receive timely medical attention,” Mr Ahmed said.

The medical expert added that drugs were freely distributed to beneficiaries based on doctor’s prescriptions, while eye glasses were given to those with visual impairments.

According to him, cases requiring further medical attention have been referred to appropriate health facilities for follow-up.

He commended Mr Onimago for sponsoring the outreach and called on other well-meaning indigenes in the diaspora to emulate the gesture.

Mr Ahmed said that patients who required surgical intervention had been identified and would receive surgery at appropriate health facilities.

“It is difficult for people to access healthcare because out-of-pocket expenditure is a very big challenge for people. Even to go to hospital for necessary tests, people will not want to go because it will incur some expenses,” he added.

Mr Ahmed stated that some of the common ailments detected during the outreach included hypertension, diabetes, respiratory tract infection, cough, difficulty urinating, diarrhea and malaria among others.

In his reaction, the Shettima of Ilorin Emirate, Sakariyau Onimago, commended the sponsor and organiser of the medical outreach.

He described Mr Onimago as a benevolent son of the emirate known for his philanthropic nature, adding that despite living abroad, he never forgot his Nigerian root.

Mr Onimago appealed to other well meaning Nigerians to always give back to their communities.

A beneficiary, Alhaji Abdullahi Abdulsalam, expressed appreciation for the intervention, saying it saved them the cost of medical consultation and drugs.

He described the outreach as timely, given the current economic challenges and praying for more of such interventions in the emirate.

Another beneficiary, Hajaratu Yakubu from Eruda community said she received free eye care services and drugs.

She expressed gratitude and prayed for the organiser for his humanitarian service to the indigents in the community. 

(NAN)