Rotary Clubs in Kaduna state have organised medical 0 to test and treat 10,000 vulnerable women, men and children for various ailments under the Rotary Family Health Days, with doctors to prescribe treatment and pharmacists to give drugs.
The outreaches, the second edition in this Rotary year, was flagged off at the Zakari Isa Primary Healthcare Centre Kaduna on Thursday and will move to Badarawa PHC on Friday and AP Smart College of Health Science and Technology, Kakuri on Saturday.
It is jointly organised by all the Kaduna Rotary Clubs, and sponsored by Rotary International, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, End Polio Now, Hepatitis Zero, Rotary for Family Health and AIDS Prevention Inc.
Kaduna state Ministry of Health and Kaduna state Primary Healthcare Development Board are partners.
Kaduna State Coordinator, Rotary Family Health Days, Rotarian Juliet Azubike, said the medical outreaches targets over 10,000 beneficiaries across the three venues for the three days.
“These are Rotary free medical outreaches that we carry out thrice per year due to demand from participants to provide free healthcare services for the family. We do HIV test, hepatitis B and C test, cervical and breast cancer tests for women, prostate cancer test for men, malaria test, blood sugar test, blood pressure test, tuberculosis test, eye cataract test, polio immunization and deworming of children.
“We carry out dental care, vitamin A administration, distributes insecticide treated nets, sanitary pads for girls, family planning and counselling and COVID-19 test for the family. There are doctors on ground for consultation, we have a pharmacist for treatment of minor ailments. We refer serious ailments we can’t handle to the nearest general hospital and we follow up to ensure that they get good healthcare,” she said.
One of the beneficiaries, 75-year-old Malam Magaji Bala, who lives in Warri Street, expressed appreciation to the organisers and sponsors of the health programme noting that it will impact massively on the health of the people.
“I came for the medical check up, various tests were carried out by the medical officers and they said I’m ok, that nothing is wrong with me. I thank God for keeping me healthy and I thank the organisers but I want to urge them to sustain it because it is helpful to all of is,” he said.
Hajiya Fatima AbdulKareem cannot thank Rotary Club enough.
She said, “I came for eye test at the primary healthcare, then I was told about the screening. I thought it would take so much time because I don’t want to leave my shop for long, but it was well organised and comprehensive. They carried out several tests such as malaria, blood pressure, diabetes, HIV, hepatitis. They said my blood pressure was high but recommended that I sleep well for few days then repeat the test again. If we were to pay for the services it would have cost us do much. I thank them for their effort may Allah bless them.”
Deputy Director, Social Mobilisation, Kaduna state Primary Healthcare Development Board, Malam Saminu Salisu Kaya, said the programme is laudable.
“People converge at the primary healthcare center for screening of various ailments. Those suffering from minor ailments are treated. This will impact positively on the lives of the residents considering the financial situation and the mass of people that attend the event to get this treatment done for them free. Though it is not free because somebody has paid for them. We would keep encouraging them as they are bridging healthcare gap and we would see how we can complement them,” he said.
