Aba Nla: Brimming with hope of good health through JCI

Aba Nla town, 10 minutes away from Idi Ayunre in Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State had been in existence for many decades. YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE reports that for the people of this community, it is a case of so near, so far; so near to civilisation, so far from social amenities especially a working health system until JCI Oluyole decided to fill the void with a medical
outreach at the weekend.

For many residents of Aba Nla community, life starts and ends with going to the farms or market place and eating food that can sustain them for the better part of the day. To a great percentage of the people of this town, going to the health centre for medical treatment ids an aberration as they reasoned that it can only lead to one or two things; using hard earned money to buy drugs that is usually unavailable at government owned health centres or visiting private hospitals that are mere money drainers.

Many especially expressed the sentiment that they have nothing to gain from going to the hospital or listening to health talks as the only thing they can gain is to be taught about family planning which according to them is detrimental to their health or be given taboos on what not to eat or what to eat which is always things beyond their reach and not filling for the kind of work they do.

These beliefs as well as a dearth of a working health system are part of the things that had been setting the community back in many areas. And to fill this void and correct the strong negative beliefs of the people, the Junior Chamber International, Oluyole organized a medical outreach to increase the mental and health well being of people in the community.

The Oluyole medical outreach which is one of the sustainable projects of the JCI was the group’s means of contributing its quota to the community by filing the gap between the government and the governed. And in line with the overall mission of the JCI which is to provide development opportunities that empower young people to create a positive change, JCI Oluyole put together an all encompassing outreach.

It was not only about health talks and medical screenings. The JCI members gave practical examples of the importance of a clean environment by cleaning the whole community including market places and the palace of the traditional head, Chief T.L. Oladipupo.

The cleaning was all encompassing as they not only swept the community but packed garbage as well as decongested drainages. Members of the community were impressed with the selfless service and some joined to ensure the whole community was cleaned up after which JCI members did door to door sensitization on the importance of taking care of one’s health and maintaining a clean environment. Following the JCI Oluyole mandated environmental exercise, the impressed members of the community trooped out to listen to a series of health talks.

The health talks were held at the Prospect High School in Aba Nla community after which there were screening for HIV, Malaria, Blood sugar and Blood Pressure among other ailments and medications were given to those that needed medical intervention.

The first health talk which bordered on cleanliness, depression, blood sugar  and nutrition was given by Mrs B. Adekola, the Matron of the Ibadan North Medical Centre while the second lecture was given by Mrs. Oluwakemi Eludipo, from the Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH) and it was focused on HIV/AIDs, family planning, care of children and prevention of diseases

The outreach planned by JCI Oluyole was in partnership with other organizations which include the Oyo State Government, Association for Reproductive and Family Health, Premier Medicaid and Lad hospital.

Speaking with Nigerian Tribune, the President of JCI Oluyole, Mrs. Temi Alade-Mustapha, stated that when they came to the community, they noticed that aside the fact that many people were ignorant of health issues, the environment was very dirty and this influenced the decision to come and make a difference in line with the association’s vision.

“It is one of our sustainable projects of the JCI Oluyole and it will be a continuous one. When we came here, we realized that the environment is very dirty and the people are ignorant of basic health issues and prevention of diseases. We felt we needed to fill this void in line with the mission of the JCI which is to provide development opportunities that empower young people to create a positive change.

“So we put things in motion to make our dream a reality. We wrote our partners for assistance and put in all we could ourselves and that is what you saw come into play today. We don’t just embark on programmes; we ensure the programme fills a void in the community where we are.

“And I am sure that after this, the people will be better off and will put all they have learnt into practice. I am particularly encouraged that many came out to join us while we were cleaning while they also listen to us during the door to door sensitization without coercion. It is a sign that they are receptive to positive change and we will not relent in doing more.

“Just like some of the people in the community were inspired to join in the sanitation process during this outreach and positive reactions we have been getting, we implore that we all take care of our surroundings specifically and body in general, so that we can live well and healthy” Alade-Mustapha concluded.

Also speaking, the Director of Community Opportunity of the JCI Oluyole, Fakiya Tolulope, added that JCI is a voluntary organization and what it is about is giving to the community.

“What we do is to identify a need in the community where we are and provide a sustainable solution to the needs of people in that community,” he told Nigerian Tribune.

At the end of the screening, 176 adults and 63 children were attended to and the result of the screening showed that 70 per cent of the community tested positive to malaria   and were adequately treated.