Over 1,500 indigent residents of the Arandun community with various ailments have benefited from a free medical outreach in the Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara.

The two-day medical outreach held on Thursday and Friday was organised by the Yusuf Popoola Foundation, a non-governmental organisation.

Medical interventions included dental care and treatment, ear, nose, and throat (ENT) treatment, general screening, paediatrics, and other basic health checks, free drugs, and referrals.

The outreach coordinator, Raodat Olawuyi, said the initiative was driven by a personal commitment to give back to the community.

“There was a time I came home and had a discussion about the health challenges of the people. I learnt that most people don’t go to the hospital but only buy over-the-counter drugs.

“I brought the idea of starting a community outreach. So, it’s more like how to breach the gap in the community so that everybody can get good health.

“It will also afford them to be checked, and anybody that needs a referral would be referred appropriately,” she said.

Ms Olawuyi, an indigene of Arandun, said she began saving and later appealed to her father and other family members for support, which they granted.

She added that this was the second edition of the outreach and that the turnout of residents had been impressive.

The coordinator said that the foundation was dedicated to the memory of her late grandfather, Yusuf Popoola, who was also a renowned philanthropist.

Also speaking, Idayat Durotoye, a consultant haematologist at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), said some of the common ailments recorded were hypertension, diabetes, and body aches.

She said high blood pressure was a major condition among many of those attended to during the outreach.

“This is a very good initiative, as it has afforded healthcare to their doorstep.

“We have seen blood pressure of over 200. Such a person can come down with stroke,” the doctor said.

Ms Durotoye advised people to embrace regular checkups, healthy lifestyles and exercise to prevent illness and diseases.

The coordinator of the Igbomina Mobile Clinic, Zubair Olaitan, commended the initiative, saying their medical crew also supported the foundation in the medical outreach.

He observed that this year’s outreach was more extensive than the previous year and commended Ms Olawuyi for the initiative.

In his reaction, major sponsor Abdulwasiu Abolarin said the initiative started when his daughter, Ms Olawuyi, reached out to him for support.

He said the family was renowned for philanthropic activities, adding that this motivated his daughter, and pledged to continue supporting the initiative.

The traditional ruler of Arandun, Ibukunle Adekenye, described the initiative as humanitarian while also commending the coordinator for having the love of the community.

He urged well-meaning individuals to continue supporting the community in health and education.

A beneficiary of the dental service, Kuburat Afolabi, commended the outreach organisers, saying she had her teeth filled after years of tooth decay.

(NAN)