By Precious Ireoluwa
Corporate bodies, philanthropists and other public-spirited individuals have been implored to assist the government to ensure easy accessibility of health-care by the aged and the rural dwellers.
Some medical officers made the appeal at the Free Medical Outreach sponsored by the member representing Ekiti Central Constituency 1, in the House of Representatives of the National Assembly, Hon. Steve Olusola Fatoba, for his constituents.
The gesture which pulled about two hundred beneficiaries for the third edition at Akodi Alarierin, Oke-Ila area of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, according to one of the medical officers from the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, EKSUTH, a Consultant physician, Dr. Jolayemi Temitope, means bringing health-care to the door-step of those who cannot afford it.
” So many people have been beneficiaries of this gesture because as at today, we attended to people that have severe hypertension. Most of them will be working and collapse all of a sudden. But through this we have been able to give them drugs they cannot afford to check and control their condition pending the time they go to the hospital”.
He described the gesture as an opportunity to actually rescue the lives of the people who have no access to health facilities. “It is an initiative of Hon. Steven Fatoba as a way of supporting the campaign for the re-election of governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, BAO.
Another medical officer from the EKSUTH, Mrs Adetoye Olufunke, explained that the medical outreach is not limited only to Ado-Ekiti, as the state capital, but will equally be extended to all the areas that make up the constituency to ensure that the rural dwellers are not left out.
She described the turn-out as encouraging and good opportunity to know their health status noting that from the observation, it was apparent that some were unaware of their health condition until they came for the outreach.
In an interview, some of the beneficiaries appreciated the facilitator, Hon. Fatoba for the gesture. They commended him for remembering the aged, children and other categories of the beneficiaries with one ailment or another.
Some of health challenges attended to include; diabetes, hypertension, poor sight among others.
The medical outreach sponsored by Hon. Fatoba is targeted at supporting BAO’s quest for a return ticket to the government house in 2026. It has five designated points for Ado-Ekiti, with this being the third edition. The first edition had taken place at the Palace of the Ewi-of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, while the second was held at Odo-Ado.
Next week, the outreach will take place at Okesa, while the last edition will hold at Atundaotu, Irona, Ado-Ekiti. After going round Ado-Ekiti, the outreach moves to towns in Irepodun/Ifelodun local government.
The free medical outreach sponsored by Hon. Fatoba is being carried out by BAO for Better Health, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital EKSUTH, Zunder BAO Anchor Group.
Hon. Fatoba’s representatives at the event described him as someone who places great premium on the wellbeing of his constituents.
Ekiti Central Constituency 1, comprises Ado and Irepodun/Ifelodun local government areas.
