Ifeoluwa Oyewole is a public speaker, a humanitarian, a third-year Medicine and Surgery student of the University of Lagos, and the founder of The Cardio Health. Combining her basic medical knowledge and her health-based initiative, she sensitises and people communities on heart health and wellbeing. In this interview by Kingsley Alumona, she talks about her education, her health-based initiative, among others.
What inspired you to study medicine? And why did you choose the University of Lagos?
I have always had a passion for medicine since I was young. To save lives and help others has always been my goal. Luckily for me, my academic mentor was a medical doctor, an anesthesiologist (retired now), at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. At age 10, she gave me books and medical movies to watch — I heard about Ben Carson from her. My dad also played an important role. Having seen that I developed an interest in how the human system works, he encouraged me and told some of his medical doctor friends about me.
When I was in SS2, a medical doctor, Dr Doherty, came to our house to advise me. He mentioned how he wrote JAMB examination seven times because he wanted medicine at all cost. In his words: “If you want something, go for it and never settle until you get it.” This became my mantra.
My first JAMB was good enough to get me Medicine in a state or private university, but not a federal university, I guess. It was 272. Then I had the option of choosing the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the University of Ibadan, but I didn’t want to stay in Ibadan, having lived in Ibadan for a long time. I opted for UNILAG.
In 2018, I took three post-UTME examinations in different schools and I got admission to Ekiti State University (EKSU). My parents advised that I change EKSU to my first choice and remove UNILAG since I’ve gotten an admission. I refused. I wrote UNILAG’s post-UTME a month after but didn’t meet the Medicine mark. I was asked if I wanted Pharmacy or Dentistry, and my answer was a No.
I was already thinking of taking the Cambridge examination, to get into 200 level at the university, when LAUTECH’s post-UTME form came out and my dad told me to attempt it. Out of anger, I wrote the examination and got the admission. I didn’t like the school, but had no choice. However, I was determined to sit for another JAMB, even while at LAUTECH, without telling my parents.
In the end, I got admitted to study Medicine and Surgery at UNILAG. Perhaps, being a goal-getter works most times.
How is the medical programme going so far? Are your lectures and the College of Medicine measuring up to your expectations?
The medical programme is going well, but very stressful, especially when combining it with the other things I do. There is nothing as ‘balance’ in medical school. There are many things I have to do, but cannot because I’ve classes/tutorials from 8am – 7pm most times.
The lecturers are nice and helpful, and are trying too. The school is also trying, but some things could be done better, especially in terms of administration.
What aspect of medicine do you find interesting and would like to specialise in after graduation?
Definitely surgery, the heart and the blood vessels. My interest has always been neurosurgery, but it shifted in 2021 when I went for outreaches and realised many people are oblivious to the silent killer called hypertension. My interest built up in that and I was determined to help people in my little way, even before I graduate from medical school.
You recently founded The Cardio Health. What inspired you to found it?
I have been attending outreaches since I was in secondary school. But since 2020, in most of the outreaches I’ve attended, we do blood glucose level tests, check people’s blood pressure and pulse rate, ask about their health generally and recommend drugs depending on their complaints.
Over time, I’ve realised that many people care about physical fitness and well-being. That is why you would see an average Nigerian ask for malaria drugs at the slightest body change or difficulty. However, the major or leading cause of death, most people don’t know about it.
In October 2022, I had the vision to birth an NGO on something else — not cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, after researching and talking to a medical student (now a doctor) who used to have an NGO, I decided that cardiovascular health would be my focus and the goal would be a drastic fall in the number of deaths every year resulting from CVDs.
You are currently in your third year of study, without much practical knowledge of the human circulatory system. What makes you think you can effectively offer advice and help on cardiovascular issues through The Cardio Health initiative?
Something about cardiovascular disease is that there isn’t a particular cause, but there can be causes and symptoms. As a medical student, whenever I hear that someone dies of high blood pressure (HBP), what comes to my head immediately is that the person knew about it late which couldn’t be managed or the person didn’t know at all. When someone has a high BP and it is detected early, measures and adequate follow-up would be taken.
This is why we take our time to educate and sensitise people, and also try to check people’s blood pressure and pulse rate anytime we plan an outreach. Also, we have consultants at our reach that we can always refer patients to. These consultants take up from where we can’t handle it again.
So far, what programmes have The Cardio Health implemented and who were the beneficiaries?
A lot of programmes ranging from community walks, outreach, webinars, educational videos, and training. The first outreach we had, on May 2nd, was for workers and we told them the importance of rest and knowing when to stop. So far, since we started six months ago, we’ve been able to impact over a thousand people across Nigeria through every Cardio Health branch.
How do you fund your projects? And how do you manage the challenges associated with running the initiative?
Funding is through my personal money, as the money we won hasn’t been collected yet. We are open to sponsorship and funding. The challenges? I can’t point to a major challenge because I have the best team who make the work easy to implement.
If someone meets you and complains of a possible health disease, how would you go about diagnosing and recommending treatment for the person?
The person should see a doctor. I’m not a doctor yet. I can only recommend medical personnel to the person.
If you were the Nigerian minister of health, how would you ensure that the management and cure of the many heart diseases ailing Nigerians are prioritised?
If I were the minister of health, which I will be someday, my major focus in reducing cardiovascular diseases would first be on local communities and rural areas. Those people are so unbothered and uninformed about their heart health.
The first thing I would do is to ensure that health workers are sent to every rural area to conduct tests and offer adequate medical care to them. After that, environmentalists would also be sent there to check the state of their health and environment. When we know the problem, we can provide a solution.
Also, regular television and radio programmes on the importance of taking care of the heart regularly would be prioritised. Lastly, hospitals would be built which would be affordable and accessible to the masses.
How do you manage your studies and The Cardio Health?
To be sincere, it is not easy. As I said earlier, the word ‘balance’ is non-existent in medical school. It is not only cardio health I do — I’m also involved in other things, including political activities. But I would say making a to-do list and prioritising it makes it easier for me. Besides, I set goals and my goal for the MB1 I wrote is not to fail any course.
Where do you see yourself — your medical career and The Cardio Health in seven years?
On a high place, achieving those goals, dreams, and values; and making an unending impact in every area I see myself.
Any advice for youths who are aspiring to be like you?
My advice is: You aren’t anyone else, you are you. Never compare yourself to anyone. Know what you want and walk towards it. It might be a bit difficult at first, but never give up.
Also, set goals and prioritise them. Have supportive people around you too. Lastly, dream big because God can fund it. Your dream is valid, go for it.
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