Two Thousand (2,000) residents of Ikeja area have benefitted from ongoing free health screening tagged: “Healthy bee” at Onigbogbo Primary Health Centre (PHC) Ikeja.
The screening was organised by the Lagos State Government and BOSKOH Lagos State Healthy Mission International (HMI), an NGO, for children between the ages of zero and 12.
The free health screening began on Aug. 2 and was to end on Saturday at seven designated primary health centres (PHCs) in Lagos.
The idea of the free health screening was to combat organ impairment, life-threatening ailments in children, visual and hearing problems, mental health services, orthopaedic services, like bone deformity and hernia.
Dr Oluwakemi Tarak, Medical Officer, Onigbogbo PHC, appealed to people to patronise or visit any registered health centres early whenever they were sick instead of practicing self medication.
Tarak said that solution to any sickness was to treat it on time instead of visiting roadside chemist for self medication because it could create a lot of damages or complications to their current issues.
“This free health screening is really loaded because we are screening eye defects, dental issues, tuberculosis awareness and giving free eye glasses for correction.
“Those that need surgery has been booked and sent to general hospitals for both adults and children.
“We have a mix of different ethnic groups such as Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo and so on around this health centre. We have been enjoying their patronage, especially Hausa people.
“This free health screening will increase our patronages because since we started the screening a lot of people have been coming.
Recently, Lagos State government renovated this health centre, which gave it a face lift and attracted more people to the centre,” she said.
Tarak said environmental issues had been the major challenge in the area, which also affected other areas due to lack of good drainage.
“Environment issues will definitely breed more mosquitoes which results to malaria and water borne diseases.
“We have also been treating elderly people with non-communicable diseases which includes; hypertension, diabetes and the cases we can not manage will always refer them to general hospital,” she said.
Also speaking, Dr Tunde Ajayi, Supervisor, BOSKOH Lagos State Healthy Mission International (HMI), said the idea increased awareness and participation at primary health centres in Lagos.
Ajayi said that people needed to be able to access healthcare easily through primary health centres in Lagos state so they could all benefit from the health services.
“Healthcare major challenges are lack of accessibility, affordability and provision of the services because healthcare is not cheap.
“We also know that healthcare is very expensive which is part of the challenges, that is why this initiative will help to reach out to people who cannot avoid it.
“This is like a fulfillment of the governor’s promise during his campaign to provide and prioritise healthcare to the people.
“This is the main reason Lagos State launched health insurance scheme for the benefit of people. People should subscribe to it,” he said.
Ajayi said that people had been coming to this health centre since Monday, we screened at least 350 people per day.
“A lot of people were given eye glasses and drugs while some children are booked for surgeries by next months.
Some participants were grateful to the state government and the NGO for bringing the programme to their primary health centre.
Mrs Oluwatoyin Adetokunbo, a teacher, urged Lagos State Government to constantly provide more basic health services to the people, especially those in the community.
According to her, many people are really suffering from different sicknesses or diseases, but they do not have money for hospital bills.
“I am really happy for this free health screening opportunity given to us in our community through this organisation.
“Lots of people came here today because it is free, which means they cannot avoid private hospital bills.
“Our leaders in this country need to improve and equip all primary health centres, health practitioners and make health services to be affordable,” adetokunbo said.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Adenine Oseni, a business woman, appealed to government at all levels to improve healthcare services and contribute to individuals well-being.
Oseni said that governments need to collaborate with more non-governmental organisations by providing healthcare services to the people.
“Some people are really facing health challenges, but they cannot afford the treatment at general hospitals.
“This is a good idea from the state government, I brought all my children for the screening and they were all treated well for free,” she said.
Also, Mr Yinka Ojuade, a trader, expressed gratitude to the Lagos state government for giving them the opportunity to know their health status.
