Olufunke Aladejare
No fewer than 10,000 Ekiti residents will benefit from the second phase of free health mission by the lawmaker representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.
Speaking in Efon Alaaye on Monday, during the commencement of the 11-day Second Phase of the Free Medical Outreach across the five local governments in Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Bamidele urged his colleagues in the National Assembly to prioritize the development of the health sector in order to curtail the spiraling indexes of mortality and morbidity rates in the country.
The senate leader implored the Federal Lawmakers to make huge investment in the health sector to complement the Governors’ giant strides in boosting access to quality healthcare by Nigerian masses.
Meanwhile, a total of 6,600 constituents had benefitted from the first batch of the programme, where beneficiaries were treated free for diseases like: hypertension, diabetes, hepatitis, hernia, among other killer diseases.
Speaking at the event, Bamidele, represented by his Senior Legislative Assistant, Hon. Gbenga Banji, posited that no Nigerian worths dying because of any treatable disease, which he said makes it imperative for leaders to take proactive actions to fortify government’s health facilities.
Bamidele hailed Governor Biodun Oyebanji for radically equipping the primary, secondary and tertiary health sectors with equipment and proficient personnel to achieve the concept of Universal Health Coverage.
Speaking on the second phase of the programme, the Senator revealed that it was conceptualised following pressing demands from his constituents, who couldn’t benefit from the first phase.
His words, “It has always been my belief that no Nigerian must die because of any treatable disease, but we got disappointed oftentimes as most citizens used to lose their lives because of diseases that can be treated so easily.
“But accessibility to quality healthcare service is very essential, and this can be limited by economic, financial and lack of facilities.
“That is why all stakeholders, particularly my colleagues from the National Assembly must focus attention on how to increase access to healthcare in terms of funding by the poor masses.
“It is not something that was heartwarming that the Life Expectancy of an average Nigerian is still pegged at 55.44 years. No effort should be spared to increase it, so that our people can live healthy lives and reap the fruits of their labour.
“The rate at which people slumped and died because of high blood pressure and other cardiac diseases was alarming. That was why I conceived this medical outreach to offer free treatments and expose our people to routine healthcare tips that can safeguard their lives”.
Bamidele appealed to the residents of the Senatorial district to avail themselves of the opportunity to get disentangled from diseases constituting threats to their lives by visiting the designated centres to meet the experts on grounds to offer free services to them.