A non-governmental organisation, Gbonse Foundation for Economic Development, has carried out a medical outreach at Fruitful Life Deliverance Ministry in Igando, Lagos State, providing free health services to members of the local community as part of its drive to improve access to basic healthcare.
Development Diaries reports that no fewer than 20 men and women benefitted from the outreach, which included checks on body weight, blood pressure and blood sugar levels, as well as medical advice from a team of health professionals led by Dr Jide Salu.
Nigeria’s healthcare system places an overwhelming financial burden on ordinary citizens.
According to a report on the World Bank’s Nigeria: Primary Healthcare Provision Strengthening Programme, nearly 75 percent of health spending in the country is paid out of pocket by households, forcing many to choose between basic needs and medical care.
The report further reveals that Nigeria’s government spending on health is one of the lowest globally, contributing to the high out-of-pocket expenses faced by households.
This has left vulnerable Nigerians exposed and often unable to access quality services without direct payment at the point of care.
According to the foundation, the exercise targeted individuals who may not regularly access hospital services, reinforcing the need for preventive healthcare at the grassroots.
Speaking during the outreach, the founder and chairman of the foundation, Helen Olaniyan, represented by Susan Aigbe, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to improving the well-being of underserved people.
She said the foundation focuses on ‘improving the lives of underserved individuals through financial empowerment, social support and accessible healthcare services’, noting that the outreach was designed to ensure that community members receive basic health checks that can help prevent illness and promote healthy living.
Olaniyan also thanked the church leadership for providing the space to carry out the exercise and urged participants to take personal responsibility for their health by fully utilising the free services provided.
Dr Salu, who led the medical team, emphasised the importance of early detection of health conditions, describing health as a vital asset that should not be taken for granted.
He explained that regular medical checks help identify illnesses early, making treatment more effective and less costly.
He also encouraged participants to become members of the foundation in order to benefit from its wider health and empowerment programmes aimed at improving quality of life, especially for women and low-income earners.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Ifeoma Ejiekwu, a teacher, expressed gratitude to the foundation, noting that the outreach changed her perception about routine health checks.
‘Before now, I didn’t think it was necessary to know my blood pressure due to stress, but with the foundation I now know my blood pressure and sugar level’, she said, urging the organisation to extend the outreach to more women who struggle to access hospital care.
Source: Vanguard
Photo source: Vanguard
