Rotary International (Nigeria) has announced the take-off of free health services in 120,000 sites across the country.
Packaged by Rotarians for Family Health & AIDS Prevention Inc (rfha), an action group under the Rotary International (Nigeria), the humanitarian outreach estimated to gulp over $200,000, will be held between Thursday and Saturday.
Coming under Rotary Family Health Days, the programme is being held in conjunction with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, alongside several partners, including Butterfly Network, which has just struck the partnership deal with Rotary Nigeria.
Announcing the kick-off yesterday in Lagos, the National Coordinator of the exercise, Past District Governor Bola Oyebade, said some of the services provided were polio immunisation, malaria screening and treatment, HIV testing and counseling, hepatitis B &C, diabetes & glucose level screening, hypertension screening, tuberculosis screening and vitamin A administration.
Others, according to him, were deworming of children, distribution of insecticide treated mosquito nets, cervical, breast and prostate cancer screening.
Counselling and tests on family planning, distribution of sanitary pads, eye test, dental care and Covid-19 awareness and sensitisation were also done.
The National Coordinator noted that Butterfly firm would conduct pregnancy tests.
“This exercise has begun since 2012. And for the next three days, Rotary Clubs will mount booths and set up camps in various locations, test, screen and examine members of the public”, he added.
He urged Nigerians to take advantage of the exercise to know their health status and enhance their wellbeing.
Oyebade, who lamented the high cost of medical materials, however, lauded the Federal Government for creating an enabling environment for the exercise to hold without any hitches.
“The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health is supporting us by giving us the platform to enter any primary health center freely. And that is huge in itself.
“They give us the documentation; rally all the states, which in turn, direct all primary health centers to access their facilities with ease and at short notices.
“At some point, they were able to give us treated mosquito nets at reduced rates.
“But prices of medical kits and associated things we normally use for this outreach have gone so high, and this is another challenge.”
Dr. Wole Kukoyi, the pioneer District Governor, 9111, who vowed to continue to support the programme, said the exercise was to fill the huge health gap in the country.
“We believe, as Rotarians, health is what everyone should have; yet, there are so many gaps, which this programme has been filling.”
In his health talk, Kukoyi said it was therefore imperative for all Nigerians to consciously take care of their health through daily hygiene, good diet, regular and appropriate exercise.
“The quantities of food you take don’t have to be much, but make sure it is a balanced diet, and avoid eating late, as this may lead to accumulation of fat in your body system, which is inimical to your wellbeing.”
The medical doctor urged Nigerians to make it a routine to be checking their status, as this will aid early detection and resolution of any health issues.
He also called on Nigerians to pay closer attention to their mental and spiritual wellness, adding that these have been confirmed to be germane to human’s healthfulness.
Also, the pioneer District Governor of 9112, Mr. Fẹmi Adenekan, noted that the Rotary Family Health Days Programme has changed lives and turned communities into a better place.
He pledged continuous support and urged Rotarians to give their best for this year’s outreach.
‘’We will continue to support this programme to deliver on its mandate.
“This is a rotary action group that has impacted all classes of people.
“I urge Rotarians to support this programme to impact more lives.”
