The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) says that elderly people need support now more than ever as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on.
The University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan chapter of the association said this during a free-medical outreach programme and provision of palliatives for aged residents of Oje area of the city as well as distribution of face masks to Oje market traders.
The medical outreach was organised by the association as part of its yearly charity exercise to commemorate its Annual General Week with the theme ‘Science and Mis-Science of COVID-19’.
The chairman of the association, Dr Dare Olulana, decried poor access to basic medical care, including mental health checks for elderly people in Nigeria, and asked that the care of senior citizens be prioritised as they are disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
He declared: “We are here today to inform them that the COVID-19 battle is far from being won and they still need to be very careful and take all necessary precautionary measures. Coronavirus can be lethal to the older population, especially, those with underlying health conditions. We want them to know what they can do to protect themselves and also give them some food items and drugs to support their immune system.”
He also appealed to the Federal Government to prioritise the care and welfare of the elderly.
“Some of them are really destitute, some having no one to care for them. Some of them have been thrown out of their homes and labelled as witches and wizards. As a society, we should do better for our senior population,” he said.
Founder of Brain Health Initiative, Nigeria, Dr Temitope Farombi, stated that some of the benefactors of the medical outreach had been adopted by Brain Health Initiative, Nigeria to take care of their medical conditions.
Dr Abimbola Obimakinde and Dr Temitope Ilori, both family health physicians, urged the traders to take the pandemic more seriously, wear their face masks, regularly wash their hands and maintain social distancing as they continue in their trade.
Babaloja of Oje Market, Chief Saliu Delesolu, appreciated the support by the doctors and asked that the traders further enlighten others in the market how best they can protect themselves from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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