David Williams
No fewer than 6,600 residents of Ekiti Central Senatorial District, have benefitted from the free medical outreach spearheaded by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.
The programme, where thousands of residents were treated free for hypertension, visual impairments, diabetes, blood sugar and ante natal treatments, hepatitis test and family planning counselling, kicked off in Iyin Ekiti, in Ekiti Central Senatorial District last week Monday, and was extended to all the five local governments that composed the district .
Speaking while wrapping up the medical intervention programme at Igbemo Ekiti, on Tuesday, Senator Bamidele disclosed that the gesture was specifically devised to increase the life expectancy of the Ekiti populace.
The Federal lawmaker, represented by his Senior Legislative Assistant, Mr. Bunmi Oguntuase, added that the medical programme, jointly prosecuted by himself in partnership with the Industrial Arbitration Panel, was targeted at lifting the burden off the shoulders of those suffering any form of ailment that could end their lives at primes.
The Senate Leader was upbeat that the programme had succeeded in helping those with underlying ailments to realise their health status, so that they can begin to proffer solutions to them.
Senator Bamidele saluted his constituents for trooping out en masse to participate in the programme, expressing confidence that many must have been loosened from their different medical afflictions pummeling their lives and constituting dangers to their existence.
“This programme was specifically conceptualised to intervene in some of the medical afflictions being suffered by my people. A total of 6,600 patients were treated for various ailments. Some diseases were just diagnosed in the course of being attended to.
“A total of 1,525 free eye glasses were distributed to those suffering visual impairments. With these, they can now have their sights restored or corrected, so that they can live normal lives.
“We all know that health is wealth, we will continue to come up with people-oriented programmes that will make positive impacts in the lives of our people; this is the essence of democracy. All the government’s programmes must be designed to benefit the masses, the common men on the streets, regardless of their political leanings”, he said.
Senator Bamidele said the programme was geared towards backing the Human Capital Development strides of Governor Biodun Oyebanji, where Healthcare delivery with Universal Health Coverage as a focal point and pivotal pillar of the administration.
A community leader and Onisara of Igbemo Ekiti, Chief Adetunji Agamago, praised the Senate Leader for the gesture, saying the programme will help in boosting the health status of the residents.
Chief Agamago, who was one of the beneficiaries, urged the participants to strictly adhere to their drug regimens, as prescribed by medical experts, so that their health can be restored for them to enjoy normal and elongated lives.