Wale Jagun
-Organisers get medical expert, beneficiaries’ commendations
Over 300 elderly residents of Ikorodu, have been provided with free medical tests and drugs, while they were also engaged on health exercises and education on how to stay healthy, at the maiden edition of the Aramide Med – Fit in Ikorodu.
The 2-day medical outreach, tagged, ‘ Aramide Ladega Med-Fit’, which was held at the Ita – Elewa Youth Center, Ikorodu, on Thursday, 4th and Friday 5th April, 2024, was organized by the Seniors Wellbeing Foundation.
At the event, which was the first in the series, beneficiaries were offered tests in diabetes, hypertension and tuberculosis, as well as HIV screenings. The exercise was supported by the General Hospital, Ikorodu.
Free drugs and referral were also offered to many of the residents that were attended to and found in need
During the 2 – day medical event, fitness session and movie screening, as well as health and wellness talks were also held for beneficiaries.
Princess Aderoju Ladega (Kiniun Ikorodu), the Ikorodu – born founder, Seniors Wellbeing Foundation who now based in the United States of America (USA), commenting on the programme on her wall Facebook page, said:
“I was informed we recorded 198 elderly attendees despite technical issues during the second session of Day 1 of the ARAMIDE LADEGA Med-Fit event. It was a privilege to have organized such a creative work for the seniors.
“The Medical Outreach with a touch of entertainment in the early hours of the day. We are honored”, she said after the successful outing on the first day of the exercise.
Commenting on the Day 2 event, the founder said:
“We recorded 158 attendees on Day 2 of the ARAMIDE LADEGA Med-Fit event. I was skeptical about the event’s attendance due to Ramadan, but what do I know?
“We return all the glory to God”, she added.
The Medical Officer from the General Hospital, Ikorodu, who led the medical team that attended to residents in the 2 – day event, Dr Mele Ibrahim, said that the commonest ailments are diabetes and hypertension.
While rating the programme highly, he appealed to the government to support more initiatives like this.
“The commonest aliments that we have seen are diabetes and hypertension. The ideal thing for such patient is to go to the hospital for check – up regularly, use their medications and some dietary modifications, but the most important thing is that they should go and see their doctors”, he said.
“For diabetes and hypertension, one of the most important things for the patients is good diet modification. They need to watch their diet; reduce their salt and meat intakes and other important things.
“I will rate the programme a very good one for the elderly persons, because some of them don’t have the knowledge that they have to go to the hospital. This provided us with the avenue to speak to them and tell them about their health
“I hope that the government can support initiatives like this more because not everyone know that they need to go to the hospital but when you have outreaches like this, they will know that they can get to see a doctor who will advise them on what they can do better with their health. I hope that the government do more about it”, he charged.
Mr Yinka, Coordinator, Aramide Med – Fit, also described the medical outreach as successful, while assuring that it would be an annual event.
“The programme has been very successful because it has made changes in the lives of many. Yesterday was superb and I met beneficiaries that commended us and assured me that they would continue to do their exercises.
“They should continue their exercises even if it’s in their rooms, and they should not neglect checking up their body always.
“This event won’t end here. It would be an annual event where we will be supporting the elderly in our community with their health”, he said.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Jamiu Akinsanya, commended the organisers for initiating the medical programme.
“lt’s a good idea that the foundation is thinking about the elderly. I did tests and I have also been provided with drugs. It shows that the organization cares about the elders”.
Mrs Shakirat, who also attended the outreach, also commended the initiative.
“They started attending to me by checking my BP and I also did other tests and later, they gave me drugs”, she said.
“It is a good exercise, and we really appreciate it. We want the government to improve on health care for the old aged people”, she added.
