The just-concluded 10th edition of a free medical and surgical outreach programme in Lagos has provided medical care and surgical treatment to indigent Nigerians who could not otherwise afford the cost of treatment.
The programme, organised through a collaboration between the Right Aid Health Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, and Onelife Hospital, Oshodi, Lagos, was described by the hospital’s owner, Dr. Adekola oyebola, as an intervention designed primarily to support less-privileged members of society.
Speaking on the initiative, Adebola said the programme was established to provide succour to people who could not afford medical treatment and surgical procedures.
“The Free Medical/Surgical Programme held in Lagos was meant to serve the interest of the less privileged,” she said.
She, however, explained that although the medical consultations and surgeries were provided free of charge, beneficiaries were required to bear the cost of blood used during surgical procedures.
The 10th edition of the outreach, held from August 1 to 31, was conducted in two phases.
The first phase, which took place from August 1 to 7, featured general medical consultations, eye care and optometry services, pharmacy services, medical laboratory and diagnostic services, cervical screening, breast screening and prostate screening.
Other activities during the first week included health education, counselling, gospel ministration, prayer and deliverance, distribution of gospel tracts and welfare materials.
The second phase, which ran from August 8 to 31, focused on free surgical procedures for patients diagnosed with various medical conditions.
The surgeries included cataract operations, fibroid removal, goitre surgery, lipoma removal, inguinal and femoral hernia repairs, umbilical hernia repairs, dental cleaning and extractions, appendix surgery, breast lump and breast cancer-related procedures, as well as treatment for prostate enlargement.
Adebola said the outreach had attracted beneficiaries from beyond Lagos, noting that some patients travelled from Oyo State for pre-event screening conducted between June and July.
She added that consultants from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), among other medical professionals, participated in the surgical phase of the programme.
According to her, the medical team performed a minimum of nine surgeries daily during the exercise.
The initiative, she said, was aimed at reducing the burden of healthcare costs on vulnerable Nigerians while giving people who might otherwise be unable to access specialist medical care an opportunity to receive treatment.
