The Osun Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Hon Funke Egbemode, on Saturday, organised a free health mission in Ijabe, Odo-Otin North LCDA of the state.
The exercise which witnessed massive turn out of young and old residents of the area, provided beneficiaries with opportunities for free medical consultation, free medication for the diagnoses and food support.
This is as the Osun Information Commissioner also sponsored the training and empowerment of 30 students and youths under the aegis of the Federation of Ijabe Students Union.
The week-long training, which began on Monday, April 11th, and ended on Saturday, April 16th, trained beneficiaries on make-up and head gear (gele), baking and small chops, and production of tie and dye (adire).
Speaking at the graduation ceremony and medical outreach, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Prince Abdullah Adeyanju Binuyo, described the empowerment as an invaluable step towards addressing youth restiveness and other unpleasant issues resulting from lack of strategic engagement.
He also commended the free health mission as a strategic complement to government’s intervention in the health sector.
“Today’s youths need a lot of support for empowerment, engagement and education, which is what we are witnessing here. It is important for us in Nigeria to continue to support and strengthen the youths for development”, he said.
Speaking on the free health mission, Egbemode said the initiative, which was organised in collaboration with her siblings as part of the memorial for their late mother, was aimed at giving back to her community.
Egbemode, who harped on the importance of early detection of health challenges, added that one of the core messages of the health outreach was preventive health.
According to her: “This was what our mother believed in, for people to know their health status and stay healthy.
“My siblings and I also decided that since this government is about making health care available at the grassroot, especially with the revitalisation of the primary healthcare centres, we had to find a way to partner with the state government to ensure that medical opportunities are available to people at the grassroot.
“So, for us, we are honouring the memory of our mother, Florence Nihinlola Aderanti, and also partnering with Governor Oyetola’s administration to ensure that the people at the ward level benefit from good health care.
“This is an ongoing exercise, and it keeps getting better. Last year, we didn’t have eyecare for beneficiaries but we have added it now. The consultant ophthalmologist has informed us that some of the people examined have been referred to the teaching hospital in Osogbo, which is the whole essence of primary health care which makes access to tertiary interventions quicker.
“Going forward, we hope to partner with the primary health centres that have been revitalised by the administration of Governor Oyetola, so that after our outreach, there can be a follow-up on the beneficiaries which will also mean a more regular intervention on our part”, Egbemode said.
The Chairman of Odo-Otin North Local Council Development Area, Hon. Adekeye Iyiola Adebayo, on behalf of residents, lauded the outreach as timely and impactful, calling on well-meaning indigenes of the area to emulate the initiative for the benefit of the people as part of efforts to support the government.
