Omupo

The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) have treated over 400 indigent patients at Omupo community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara.

Speaking on the sidelines of the outreach, Dr Dele Abdullahi, the President of ARD-UITH explained that over 400 medical cases were treated, while about 14 cases required surgical interventions.

He stated that the association also managed many cases of hypertension, diabetes and eye problem.

Abdullahi explained that the health intervention is a yearly outreach and health intervention programme free of charge organised as a Corporate Social Responsibility by the association to give back to the society and save lives of the indigent.

He noted that the quick assessment of the health challenges of the community showed that they need quick government intervention, as there are only two medical officers manning the affairs of the Cottage hospital.

According to him, the Cottage hospital also serve the surrounding communities neighbouring Omupo town.

He appealed to the state government to provide ambulances for the teeming population and surrounding communities, in addition to more staffs.

Also speaking, Dr Bakare Afolabi, the Chief Medical Director of Cottage Hospital, Omupo explained that the health facility caters for about 38 surrounding communities.

Afolabi commended ARD-UITH for the humanitarian services while expressing surprise at the teeming population that came for series of health challenges they are facing.

He pointed out that due to poverty, these people have been suffering in silence with their respective ailment because they could not access health care.

He stated that during the free health care intervention, many people presented cases of hypertension, diabetes hernia and swelling in different part of the body.

The CMD however enjoined people to continue to access health care from the Cottage hospital and not keep diseases until it becomes too late to manage.

In his appreciative remark, Oba Yakubu Buari, the Olomu of Omupo, described the health intervention by ARD-UITH as life saving.

He commended such humanitarian gestures by the association, while appealing for more partnership with them in the future.

The community leader expressed joy, while observing that many people turned out to access the free health care.

He explained that the Cottage hospital is the pride of the community, as it caters for surrounding villages and towns, while also appealing to the state government to convert it into a General Hospital.

Buari assert that the health facilities can be likened to a General hospital, judging by the efforts of indigenes of the community in diaspora and those in the country, who contributed to its development

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some health cases that required tertiary interventions where referred to the teaching hospital for further care, free of charge by the association. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)