Ikeja residents, environs to enjoy 3-day free medicare - ITREALMS

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As part of efforts to make healthcare accessible to Nigerians and improve their health conditions, Harley and Rainbow Specialized Laboratories and Diagnostics, - Nigeria's leading specialized laboratory that focuses primarily on high end investigations such as molecular diagnostics, transplant studies and other routine laboratory investigations has announced a three-day free medical outreach to people living in Ikeja and its environs.

The free medical outreach as announced by the Chief Executive Officer of the laboratory and diagnostic center, Dr. Ademolu Owoyele will allow people to be tested and diagnosed in various health conditions that include Hepatitis B and C screening, eye screening to detect glaucoma and refractive errors in the eyes.

Shell offers medicare to 170 drivers in Ota - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Estimated 170 public transport drivers have benefited from the general medical consultation and screening services organised by Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG) as part of the activities marking the 20th anniversary of the gas distribution company, reports ITREALMS.

The one-day programme held recently in Ota, headquarters of Ado Odo/Ota Local Government area of Ogun State, saw the drivers screened for blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), blood sugar, cholesterol, malaria parasite, and HIV. There were also eye checks, prescription lenses, dental care, pharmaceutical services and distribution of insecticide-treated nets.

Speaking at the opening session, the Managing Director of SNG, Ed Ubong, represented by the company’s Operations Manager, Niyi Salami,described  the health programme as part of the many community-focused initiatives of Shell Companies in Nigeria to support efforts by government at all levels to make life better for the people.

“The health and safety of the people are critical and we see our company as continuing to play a role in supporting the efforts of government to take promotive, preventive and curative healthcare to the people where they work and where they live,” Ubong said. “By ensuring quality state of health of public transport drivers including their sight, safety standard on our roads will be enhanced and this will help to reduce health-associated carnages on our roads.”

The programme was held in collaboration with Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government; Ogun State Ministry of Health; and the state’s Primary Health Care Board (PHCB).

The Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, commended SNG for the health programme among its many other supports to the host community in Ogun State. He also praised another Shell company, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, for its robust medical outreach programme in Ogijo, also in Ogun State.

Shell’s Regional Community Health Manager, Dr. Akinwumi Fajola, who led the medical team advised the drivers not to ignore early signs of health challenge which he said could help in prompt and effective management of hidden medical conditions by medical officers.

In attendance at the programme were the representatives from the state’s Primary Health Care Board, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, Ado Odo/Ota Local Government and Community Development Associations.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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Pix: L – R: Operations Manager, Shell Nigeria Gas, Niyi Salami; Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye; and Shell’s Regional Community Health Manager, Dr. Akin Fajola, during the Community Care Programme at Ansar-Ud-Deen Practicing School, Ota, Ogun State recently.

If Buhari, Malu distrust Military medicare, why shouldn't I

Commentary@ITRealms:

As kids growing up in Aba in the 1980s, our parents took us (not once, but many times) to the health department of Aba Urban to be vaccinated. I remember we used to call it 'oku aka'. One fierce looking man would bring out something like a short gun and 'shuk' you in your shoulder. One, two or three minutes of crying would then follow. 

Even in the 1990s as a teenager and young adult, I remember going to Umule Village Hall and Osusu Village Hall at different times to receive free Yellow Fever and Hepatitis vaccinations.

Therefore, the people of the southeast did not reject a good thing (vaccination) as some are already mocking. However, people of the southeast are saying that they are not interested in their children being vaccinated by the Nigerian Army which just three weeks ago invaded their land and killed their unarmed youths. I am cocksure that the people will as usual consent to their children being vaccinated should the Rotary International or the then ubiquitous Kick Polio Out team come today tp give vaccinations.

Indeed, the people have the rights to be apprehensive. History is on their side. Remember that the federal government is still struggling to refute the allegation that they deliberately injected people with monkeypox in Bayelsa.

Remember that there were also rumours that those who carried out the Ozubulu massacre were wearing military uniform. Remember that the Nigerian army has a history of killing unarmed civilians: They did it in Asaba in 1967. They did it in Odi in 1999, They did it in Zaki Biam in 2000.

They also did it in Aba and Onitsha in 2016. In the same 2016, they killed Joseph Izu (a footballer with Shooting Stars) in Bayelsa. Remember, too, that President Buhari does not even trust the medical competence of the Nigerian Army, hence he jets to the United Kingdom (UK) every now and then to receive treatment.

Again, remember, that just four days ago, news came that a former Army Chief, General Victor Malu died while receiving treatment in a Cairo hospital. So, if Buhari and Malu do not trust the capacity of the Nigerian Army to deliver, medically speaking, why should anybody blame the hapless southeast commoners for not trusting the army and their medical overtures?

In any case, the outright rejection of the so-called medical outreach by the people should get the Nigerian Army thinking. Perception is everything. The people see the Nigerian Army as killers and nothing more pretentious. Obviously, there was poor sensitization before the ill-advised outreach.

The Nigerian Army should learn how to engage the public. It is an art. Everything is not show of force. From the statement issued by the Anambra State Government, it was clear that there was no sensitization  prior to the outreach. Even the state government was not carried along. I doubt if the State School Management Board, teachers and parents were carried along too. 

In climes where people reason, the sensitization would have lasted for a month or even more, particularly if such an outreach is to be carried out in an area where the army just invaded and wreaked havoc. And the best combination of media would have been used to reach the target audience.

I believe the Nigerian Army must have learnt a lesson or two from this misadventure and as such will engage the public better next time.

*Contributed by Nnaemeka C.I Meribe

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