Over 300 residents of Agege, a community in Lagos state benefited from the maiden free medical outreach programme organised by Kairos Inspirational Network.
The programme was part of the church’s support to the government in providing quality health care to the people and the start of their effort to give back to the society with plans to take it across different local communities.
Some of the services rendered at the one day mission included general medical screening for children and adults, and provision of drugs for common ailments, with serious cases referred to the general hospital. by the doctors.
There was general consultation, health screening, counseling, dental examination, basic eye test, distribution of reading glasses and referrals for special cases by the doctors.
Dr. Shola Abodunrin, head of medical missions, said they embarked on the outreach as part of their contributions to the development of the society and creation of wealth as only health humans can create wealth.
Abodunrin said the intent is to give to people that are underserved, under reached, as Kairos was registered both as faith-based and also as a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) because of outreach like this and this is the cardinal responsibility of the group, to take care of the people not reached. It will be quarterly, as we chose local governments and spread outreach.
She said events like this, aside it bringing the communities together, it is an avenue for them to get private consultations with specialist like ophthalmologists, dentists, pediatricians, 2 OB/GYN, pharmacists, and laboratory assistants present so that they can go from getting general medical check-up to consultations and meet their specialized needs which they may not otherwise, have access to outside of the outreach.
“At events like this, we have the opportunity to provide health care information as there are things assumed that people know but they don’t really know. It is an opportunity to counsel them on prevalent health issues in the environment. I am an Obstetrician and Gynecologist and I will speak more about that, the prevalence of breast cancer and cervical cancer that are preventable if identified early on”, she added.
Dr. Akintoba Akintayo, the Medical Officer of Health, Agege local government said the initiative was welcomed by them as it was obvious that the government cannot do it alone and there is the need to collaborate with organisations interested in delivering good health to the people.
He said so many persons cannot afford health care services due to the economic situation of the country which makes it necessary for the government to partner with those interested in affecting people’s lives positively.
Senior Pastor, Kairos, Adeoye Abodunrin said they decided on the initiative based on received directives from the Lord that they should come to Agege local government and inspire the community with the word of God, train them and give them free drugs in conjunction with their partners.
He said the level of poverty in the country has affected most citizens’ access to health care. “There is a health challenge in the country and this outreach is to provide means of succor to the people and it is not just to spread the word of God, we also want it to be tangible, something that can impart the people”, he asserted.
A beneficiary, Ibrahim Adegoke, thanked the organisers for the initiative, saying it was what they have been hoping for. He said meeting freely with a specialist doctor at the outreach was a thing of joy to him as his needs were met and he was given drugs to take care of his ailments.