An NGO, George Aid Foundation Nigeria, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Ibadan Jericho Metro, says it is set to enroll no fewer than 1,000 Ibadan residents in the Oyo State Health Insurance Scheme.
The founder of the NGO, Mr Ken George, stated this in Ibadan on Monday at a medical outreach held at Oke-Are Primary Healthcare Centre, Ibadan.
George said that the medical outreach aimed to provide the indigent Ibadan residents with annual medical outreach and monthly food distribution to 100 families.
He said that the programme, which was in partnership with the state government, was also to support the primary healthcare centres in the state.
George called for more collaboration by organisations with the government to provide healthcare for people.
According to him, the 1,000, who are mostly indigents, will be registered under the health insurance scheme at the cost of N130,000 per annum per person.
“We will work with Oyo State Health Insurance Scheme so that after we are long gone, the people can continue to access healthcare.
“The medical outreach will cater for eyes, dental issues, blood pressure and so on, while alternative care will also be available,” he said.
Head of the medical team, Dr Musbau Kasumu, urged Nigerians to be wary of eating junk food because of the grave health implications on their health.
According to him, lots of Nigerians have health challenges, such as hypertension, diabetes, and cholesterol, mostly unknown to them.
“We are encouraging people to check their blood pressure because if you don’t check it and it is too high, it will result in kidney problems.
“Lots of people are having kidney issues in Nigeria right now and some of them can be easily prevented by checking blood pressure every day,” Kasumu said.
Also, the President of Rotary Club Ibadan Jericho Metro, Mr Afolabi Salisu, noted that Nigerians lacked proper medical check-ups, thus making it necessary to take it to them.
He said that Rotary, in line with its mandate, decided to join the partnership to proffer solutions to some of the health challenges facing Nigerians.
Some of the beneficiaries, who spoke with REPORTERS AT LARGE appreciated the organisers for the free health services and provision of drugs.
