The Ogun State Government has engaged in partnership with local and foreign health service providers for free healthcare services in the state in order to mitigate the increase in mortality rate.
The wife of the state governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, in collaboration with a US-based Naykas Healthcare Incorporation, ConnectDcare Inc and Ajose foundation is taking the campaign for drastic reduction in mortality rate through free healthcare services to all the Local Government Areas in the state.
While lamenting the high mortality rate, Mrs Abiodun met with residents of Ijebu Aiyepe at the weekend as part of the programmes designed for the indigent residents.
The free medical tests which include blood sugar level, Blood pressure, were perfoemed on over 500 residents who were in attendance.
Delighted over the tremendous turnout of patients, the Governor’s wife told the residents that the programme would outlive the tenure of the present administration, adding that the programme would be taken to the nooks and crannies of the state.
At the Olabisi Onabanjo Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, free surgeries were carried out on over 120 patients who had been diagnosed of Thyroid inflammation, otherwise known goiters and anemia.
The surgeries was part of the activities scheduled for a 5-day free surgical mission.
It was learnt that at least 30 medical doctors from Naykas Healthcare Inc ConnectDcare United State of America led by Dr. Mufutau Kasumu and Olabisi Onabanjo Teaching Hospital, Sagamu led by the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Oluwabunmi Tunwase were on ground to attend to the patients.
During her visit to OOUTH on Wednesday, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun showed her excitement over the large turnout and the level of impact that the project has made on the lives of the people in the state.
She stated further that the affordable Healthcare programme is one of the cardinal policies of the present administration in the state.
She said the invitation of the foreign medical practitioners ably supported by the medical doctors from Olabisi Onabanjo Teaching Hospital is aimed at saving lives, saying that Health is Wealth.
She said, “Many patients had in past lost their lives because they could not afford the outrageous medical bills. This development has resulted into an increasing mortality rate nationwide.
‘Aside this ignorance has killed many people especially in our villages. There is a particular girl from one of the villages in Ogun state who had a bruise on one of her legs but left it unattended to until it later became cancerous.
‘There is need for the people to be mindful of their health status by undergoing a periodic medical checkup in hospital and recognized health centres. This is the only way to reduce the mortality rate.
“I want to thank our partners. Naykas Healthcare Inc, ConnectDcare Inc and the staffers of the Olabisi Onabanjo Teaching Hospital, Sagamu for making the project a huge success.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Tomi Cokers, said the programme is designed to assist the indigent patients, urging the residents to advantage of the opportunity.
The Chief Medical Director of OOUTH, Dr. Oluwabunmi Tunrayo Fatunwase, equally commended the efforts of Mrs Bamidele at assisting the indigent patients, submitting that a 5-day programme would go a long way in the medical history of the state.
She said, “We had two sessions during the programme, teaching and surgical sessions. An average of 10 patients were attended to daily.”
The lead doctor and representative of Naykas, Dr. Mufutau Kasumu said the programme has been on in the past 10 years, noting that it is his own way of given back to the society.
