Elderly people in Ondo enjoy foundation’s medical care

As part of efforts to cater to the needs of elderly people in the society, a United States of America based Non Governmental Organisation, Careerbridge Foundation, recently  took it’s free health care programme to Ilu Tuntun, in Okitipupa local government area of Ondo state,  to cater for the medical needs of over 500 indigenes of area free.

The event which kicked off at Igbotako, spread to other environs, with scores of medical personnel on the ground to attend to the beneficiaries, who are mainly the elderly, who turned out in large numbers to enjoy the free medical service.

Majority of the beneficiaries who were women of the community not only got diagnosed but were given adequate treatment for ailments in the programme tagged, “Ikale Free Medical Outreach,” which took place in seven designated points.

Activities at the outreach included data gathering, screening, consultancy, ophthalmological services, pediatric treatment and dispensary of drugs worth millions of naira.

Speaking during the flag off of the programme, the Executive Director of the Careerbridge Foundation, Mr Modupe Olowodahunsi, said the free medical outreach was to assist the people, especially the elderly whom he said were suffering and dying of preventable diseases, adding that the programme was meant to reach out to elders in the various communities in the area who are among the neglected and abandoned people in the society in a bid to offer some support to them and help restore their health and hope.

Olowodahunsi explained that he set up the organisation based on his personal experience which he described as an ugly one. According to him, “my mum died at an early age because of lack of medical care and this motivated me to assist our elderly ones here in order to discover diseases that could be treated to increase their lifespan.”

He noted that the elderly are mostly neglected, abandoned and abused

by their people without any special or better government policy to cater for them, adding that his organization is trying to bring succour to the old people in their natural environment where they can feel happy and have hope.

He assured the elders that his organization will not relent in putting smiles on their faces and also restore their hope, adding that many of them have been disconnected from the society. He called on political and community leaders to also give helping hands to the elders.

He explained further that the NGO decided to celebrate them and make them happy by offering free medical tests and drugs to boost their health and the exercise covered the screening and treatment for diabetes, cataract, hernia, night blindness, short and long sightedness, arthritis, dislocations, hypertension and high sugar level among such treatable ailments.

He disclosed that the services of medical experts, specialists, opticians, ophthalmologist and paediatricians were employed to diagnose and treat them, assuring that the programme would be sustained and made an annual event.

The beneficiaries that were diagnosed with serious health challenges according to him, would go for free surgery next year and their medical expenses will be covered by the organisation

Commending the organization for the good gesture, the chairman of the event, Prof. Adebanji Akintoye, lauded the foundation for its humanitarian services to the people, revealing that he had known the Director since he was in the USA and he had always been humane. He emphasized the importance of qualitative health service delivery to the people and the roles it plays in development and nation-building.

He however on individuals and organisations in the society both at home and in the Diaspora, to extend such hands of love and fellowship to their people at home and desist from leaving them in the lurch, adding that it is important to complement government’s efforts in all sectors.

An Octogenarian, Mrs Akindonna Beatrice, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, stated that the outreach went a long way towards making life easier on them, urging others to also contribute their quota to the development of elders in the society while Mr Paul Akanbiemu, said the gesture of the organization is second to none in the environment, enjoining public office holders to wake up to their responsibilities.