…as constituents benefit free medical services
By Precious Oham
Some beneficiaries of Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele Medical Outreach has called on lawmakers in Ekiti State to emulate the Senate Leader by providing free healthcare services to the people of the State.
They stated this in Igede-Ekiti at day three of the free medical outreach sponsored by the Senate Leader, representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District.
Some of the beneficiaries including Bosede Adeyeye Josephine and Olagunju Yemisi hailed the Senate Leader for bringing free healthcare to their doorstep.
While calling for the sustenance of the outreach, they noted that the kind gesture will cater for the medical needs of the constituents who cannot afford medical care.
The free health program which spreads across the five local governments of Ekiti Central Senatorial District is focused on general consultations, distribution of free glasses, free scan and consultations for pregnant women, among others.
Meanwhile, Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Ekiti State Chapter, Dr Oreyemi Ifedayo has disclosed that patients with chronic diseases will access healthcare services at referral schemes in the State.
According to him, “It has been an eventful and successful outreach again. The turnout has been impressive. We have been able to attend to pediatric cases, young children and the older ones.
“We gave specialist consultation and interventions and antenetal care for pregnant women as well as special consultation for opthalmology eye care and earing problem. It has been an all encompassing outreach for us.
“A lot of people who have chronic illnesses, hypertension, diabetes, asthma have also been attended to by the specialists and also been given medication as well as follow up care instructions.
“This is an all encompassing vision that even the Senator is part of. We are equally working with Ekiti State Ministry of Health and Human Services to also capture as many of our citizens that require follow-up healthcare for chronic illnesses especially hypertension and diabetes.
“We have referral schemes at our Primary Healthcare and Secondary Healthcare facilities so that they can continue to access care there at relatively low cost.
“Some of them will be captured through the Ekiti State Health Insurance Scheme while others will be captured under the care of Ekiti State government so that our people can benefit from interventions in health which is organized by all their sons and daughters both Ekiti State government as well as each Senators representing their constituencies which MOB is doing right now.”
Also, Manager of the contracting company – Golden Castle Integrated Global Resources, Mrs Stella Efeoghene said the outreach have so far yielded positive result.
Her words: “We were able to successfully carry out the Efon Alaaye and Iyin-Ekiti axis. We were able to reach as many people as possible in different health categories:
“The eyes, ear, nose and throat, dental and even the obstetrics sections. We were able to administer medications and drugs to pregnant women and children.”
On his part, Hon. Bamidele Omolade lauded the initiative of the Senate Leader saying that he is giving his constituents a good representation.
“This is very fantastic because these are the kind of interventions people have been expecting. MOB has been doing a lot of things to improve the lives of his constituents.
“This medical outreach is something people highly embraced from all the nooks and crannies of this constituency. We are proud to have MOB at this right time because he is giving us a good representation.”
A Consultant Public Health Physician at the Federal Teaching Hospital Ido-Ekiti, Dr. Abioye Opeyemi reiterated that patients with advanced cases will be referred to teaching hospitals for proper healthcare.
He noted that NMA Ekiti State Chapter has been able to extend their magnanimity through the outreach targeted at ensuring that Ekiti people access free quality healthcare.