Relief came the way of about 100 indigent patients suffering from hernia, breast lump, lipoma and appendicitis as the wife of the Osun State governor, Mrs Kafayat Oyetola, through her pet project, Ileri Oluwa Development (IOD) Initiative, sponsored free medical surgeries to address health challenges.
Relatives of the patients and others, including traditional rulers, converged on the premises of the Comprehensive Health Centre, Iragbiji in Boripe Local Government Area last Tuesday, where surgeons performed the operations that lasted several hours. Many of the beneficiaries of the free surgery, who had hitherto been in a state of despair regarding their health challenges heaved a sigh of relief as they underwent free surgeries which they could not afford due to financial handicap.
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Speaking during the free medical outreach, Mrs Oyetola said the resolve to sponsor free medical surgeries was to assist the needy in the society, most especially individuals who could not afford the cost of paying the required money to treat their ailment, stressing that attending to their medical needs would go a long way in giving them hope.
According to her, “We are determined to follow this doggedly, especially for the benefit of our women and children. We consider health as a major social protection factor that would enhance better living standard for everyone in this state. It is when we are in good health that we can generate great economy for our state. The initiative has undertaken quite a number of medical interventions for individuals. These interventions are in the areas of intrusive surgical needs and mental health.
“Today, some of the ailments that would be attended to are such that ordinarily should not keep our people away from care. However, the cost of attending to these ailments vis-a-vis attending to other daily needs has made many of our people to suffer treatable pain.
“This is why we have come out for this intervention. I am delighted to note that the present administration has intensified efforts at expanding the coverage of the health insurance scheme in the state. I urge you all to take advantage of this scheme as it would afford everybody necessary access to medical care for some categories of needs.”
While appealing to civil society organisations in the state to rev up the awareness among the people in the communities and sub-urban areas to get registered for the health insurance scheme, Oyetola contended that “with the improvements being made to health facilities in the state, our people should complement the efforts of the present administration by accessing care at the medical facilities.”
In his remark, the former Commissioner for Health in Osun State, who is also the current supervisor for the Ministry of Health, Dr Rafiu Isamotu, commended the wife of the governor for the medical outreach, noting that many indigent patients would benefit from the free surgery.
He assured that the state government would spare no effort in improving the quality of healthcare delivery in all public hospitals and Primary Health Care (PHC) centres in communities as part of the measures to promote effective physical and mental fitness of the citizenry.
Also speaking during the free medical outreach, the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdulrasheed Olabomi lauded Oyetola for coming to the aid of the people in terms of medical intervention, just as he implored wealthy individuals in the society and corporate organisations to emulate the gestures by giving back to the society. Some of the beneficiaries of the free surgery who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune expressed gratitude to the governor’s wife for footing the bills of the surgical operation, saying other prominent people in the society should assist the underprivileged to improve their living conditions.
Other dignitaries at the occasion included the Akirun of Ikirun, Oba Abdul Rauf Adedeji, the Alaagba of Aagba, Oba Rufus Olayinka Ogunwole, the Olororuwo of Ororuwo, among others
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