Hundreds of people got free medication and counseling during a medical outreach in Barkin Ladi local government area of Plateau state recently. MUHAMMAD TANKO SHITTU reports.
Concerned about the health status of the people at his nighbourhood and nearby communities, coupled with the economic heardships, a philanthropist, son of Barkin Ladi town in Plateau state has through organisatition, the Shukuran Foundation, held its 2nd Annual Medical Outreach touching on the lives of more than 1,600 persons, of old, middle and lower class of ages.
The three-day health exercise which had dozens of trained professional practising medical doctors, surgeons, dentists, pharmacists, nurses and other health workers, extensively contributed to the success of the annaul event.
According to the outreach coordinator, a medical laboratory scientist, Abdullahi Baffari, the programme has witnessed great improvement than the maiden edition.
He said the idea of the outreach was conceived by the founder/financier, Alhaji Hassan Kasim Yakubu, to look at the health challenges of the people.
The outreach coordinator, Abdullahi Baffari said although the outreach is for everybody, but they targeted the Ramadan period.
“This year’s outreach has witnessed more turn out, and we have made provisions for many drugs that will cater for the planed numbers,” he said.
He said 12 doctors, including surgeons, dentists, pharmacists, lab scientists, nurses, among others volunteerd for the programme.
Also Dr Ahmad Sani Bala, of the National Hospital, Abuja said diagnosis and treatments were made based on age groups. Ring worms, scarves, malaria and typhoids, he said are prevalent with the young age while the elderly he said are mostly discovered with hypertension, diabetes, ulsar and malaria.
The middle age, he said have much of abdominal pains, ulsar and other diseases.
Dr Bala said besides counseling and providing medicines, they also take into records prevalent deseases with the aim of forwarding them to the nearest primary health care centre in the local government area.
He hoped that the outreach would be sustained for years so that the downtrodden woud continue to access healthcare for free.
“This year’s outreach was highly impressive; it has witnessed improved coordination of both the various medical experts.
“Last year we recorded not up to 500 persons in all, but this year we have treated more than 1,600 persons,” he said.
Similarly, Dr Bashir, stressed that participating in the outreach was also to him a payback free services to his people. He said the outreach was not only for the beneficiaries to revive their health status, but enable the Muslim community to participating in the fasting period.
“We discovered that some of the elderly who are hypertensive don’t even know that they have such illness until now that we’ve diagnosed them.
“There are those that were aware of it, but don’t have mony to buy drugs, that is why this outreach is very handy, especially that it is now Ramadan someone may not fast because he or she will not have money to buy the drugs,” he said.
He urged groups or individual with the capacity of embarking on similar good acts to endeavour to venture in for the sake Allah and humanity.
At the outreach, professional medical laboratory scientists, also played vital roles and MLS, Yakub Yahya, said they have conducted tests on malaria, hyphertises, HIV, amongst others.
Likewise, a specialist dental therapist, Babangida Bala Kabir said it is important for people to always observe personal hygiene, which will in turn further takes care of their teeth.
“Many deseases originated from lack of oral hygiene. Some of this deseases starts from the mouth, that is why we are advising people to make sure they brush their teeth twice in a day, and they must make sure they use toothpaste that contains fluoride, because it prevent the teeth from having a hole in it,” he said.
Babangida, further counselled people to visits dental clinic after every six months.
Rahma Umar Sani a professional nurse that participated for the first time said she was impressed with the entire processes.
“The outcome was impressive, the team also impressive,” she said.
The motivation behind the outreach.
According to the founder Alhaji Yakubu, “I got motivated by one of my best friend, a serving military officer, Major General Ibrahim Jalo; he has been doing it and we are always together; so I learnt from him.
“It is the only way that one can serve humanity. I have been praying that I should make something that will make my people happy, hoping that Allah will accept from me,” he enthused.
Appreciations
Appreciating the gesture, Malama Hafsat Usman, a beneficiary said, she was tested, diagnosed, counselled and offered free medication as she prayed Allah to reward the sponsors.
So also Mrs Zainab Muhammad expressed appreciation over the gesture, urging other well-to-do individuals to emulate Shukuran Foundation.
Madam Piyo Davo was treated and she said the outreach has helped her to access free medication. “They did not ask me to give anything. I heard it was free; that was why I came because if I were to give money, I don’t even have and I wouldn’t have come.”
