No fewer than 5,000 Ekiti State residents across different communities have benefited from a free medical outreach programme where beneficiaries were provided with free eyeglasses among others.
The medical outreach was organised by an agro-allied firm, Agbeyewa Farms in partnership with Grace for Impact Foundation, an international non-profit organisation. The eight-day medical outreach program was themed “Recovery 2022″.
The outreach featured 100 healthcare professionals providing medical screening and treatments, eye screening and free eyeglasses, dental screening and treatments, and cancer screening, as well as dispensing medications to residents of Ipao, Oke Ayedun, Odo Ayedun, Itapaji, Ikosu, Erinmope and neighboring communities in Ekiti state.
In a joint statement on Wednesday, the Chairman, Agbeyewa Farms, John Olajide, said the programme was aimed at providing essential care to members of the host communities.
“This medical outreach provided essential care to members of our host communities and nearby areas, which are largely remote areas and have limited access to healthcare services,†the statement quoted Olajide as saying.
He added that “We appreciate the opportunity to benefit our host communities on health matters through our sustained interest in the wellness of the communities. We believe that engagements like this promote mutual trust and enhance cooperation between host communities and businesses. We hope our model of involvement encourages other businesses operating in the state to also partner with the government to contribute to the sustained development of the state.â€
Speaking on the results of the outreach, the Programme Coordinator, Grace for Impact, Mrs. Dele Nweneka, said of the over 5,000 individuals who benefitted from the six-day health mission, about 35% were men, 50% were women and 15% were children. Eye and Dental care accounted for 76.5% of the medical cases encountered while cases like high blood pressure, Malaria, amongst others made up 40%.
“We were impressed by the responses from the six communities and particularly grateful to Agbeyewa for making this possible,†Nweneka said.
The eight-day medical outreach started in Ipao-Ekiti, Ikole Local Government Area of the state, attended by traditional rulers and government representatives, and ended at the town hall of Erinmope, Moba Local Government Area of Ekiti state.
Reacting to the gesture, the traditional ruler of Erinmope Ekiti, Oba Sunday Aniyi, said the medical outreach was a testament to the firm’s commitment to the wellbeing of the Ekiti people.
“Today, we have once again witnessed Agbeyewa’s genuine interest in Erinmope, The free medical services we have enjoyed do not come cheap anywhere in the world. Agbeyewa has once again proven to us that they are not only interested in having their farmland in our community but are also particular about the wellbeing of the indigenes. On behalf of the community, I say thank you to them,†the traditional ruler said.
