House Officers Forum, HO Forum, Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, FTHL, has offered free medical services to no fewer 100 indigent people of Adankolo market in Lokoja, Kogi State.
The forum also enlightened the community on some health conditions, the right use of medications, how to take care of their health, as well as personal hygiene to prevent transmittable diseases.
The Chief Medical Director of FTHL, Dr Olatunde Alabi, during the outreach programme, commended the forum for the initiative to invest their time and resources in helping the less privileged.
Alabi, who was represented by the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, CMAC, FTHL, Dr Ojochide Ebune, expressed FTHL management’s total support for the initiative.
He stressed that the gesture would go a long way to improve the health of the beneficiaries who could not afford basic healthcare services due to financial constraints amidst the economic pressure.
The CMD encouraged the community to mobilise their people to take advantage of the free healthcare service, as well as other subsequent medical outreaches.
He urged the people to pay adequate attention to their health, especially regular screening, exercise, watch what they eat, drink, reduce stress and ensure adequate rest.
“A healthy person is a productive, resourceful and useful person. Prevention is better than cure; health is wealth. If you take care of your health, it is cheaper than cure,” he said.
The CMD assured the populace of the commitment of the management of FTHL to continue to ensure quality delivery of healthcare services.
He stressed that the institution remains the most equipped, effective, accessible and affordable tertiary health institution in the state.
Also speaking, House Officer’s Representative, FTHL, Dr Kenneth Nwafor, said the medical outreach was part of activities to mark the HO Forum 2024 Week as a give back project to the society.
Nwafor noted that the forum with the support of FTHL’s management had on Friday, sensitised the public on the benefits of blood donation to commemorate the “World Blood Donor Day, WBDD,” marked every June 14.
He said the medical outreach was to sensitise the people on their health challenges and how to avoid some bad practices.
He added that it was also to raise awareness on chronic health conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, among others.
Nwafor said the people would also be screened and given free drugs such as antihypertensives, antidiabetic, pain relief among others.
He added that others who need urgent medical attention would be referred to medical facilities.
Nwafor appreciated the management of FTHL for their approval and full support for the initiative, stressing the need to continually encourage and support such project on a regular basis.
Earlier in her sensitisation lecture, a House Officer, Dr Damilola Daniel, advised the people to engage in regular exercise, avoid salty food, self meditation and herbal concussion.
Also, a 75-year-old community leader, Alhaji Isah Abdullahi, thanked the forum and the management of FTHL for bringing the medical outreach to Adankolo rural communities.
Some of the beneficiaries, Rekiyat Ibrahim, Hasiya Isa, Salman Ismaila and Samuel Ariyo, all expressed their gratitude to the forum for improving their health and wellbeing. (NAN)
