In commemoration of World Health Day, the Join The Cast Healthcare Initiative organised a free medical checkup at the Campos Memorial Mini Stadium in Lagos Island on Sunday, 6 April, 2025.
The event, aimed at promoting health awareness, offered complimentary screenings for blood sugar levels, malaria, HIV, and other forms of tests along with free medical consultations provided by Evercare Hospital Lekki.
This initiative was further enriched with a novelty match between media personalities and comedians, including other grassroot football academies in Lagos, blending health awareness with entertainment.
The event designed to engage the public, combining critical health services with a fun and lively atmosphere bringing together the Lagos community in support of both physical well-being and social bonding.
Irabor Okosun, the convener of Join The Cast Initiative, reflected on the long-term impact of the organisation, saying, “We’ve been doing this since 2013, and with the help of numerous stakeholders, partners, and volunteers, we’ve impacted over 1.7 million lives. This includes offering free tests, treatments, and counseling on a range of health issues from eye care to dental and mental health.” Okosun further emphasized the organization’s mission to reach more people, saying, “Today, we’re aiming to impact at least 5,000 more lives.”
Chioma Enwereji-Ogbonda, Marketing and Communications manager at Evercare Hospital Lekki, emphasized the importance of community-centered initiatives.
She said, “Our partnership with Join The Cast is a testament to our commitment to making quality healthcare more accessible. By providing free screenings and consultations, we are helping individuals take control of their health and preventing serious conditions.”
She further advised that people take serious cognizance of their health, especially those approaching certain ages.
“I would advice that Nigerians stay on top of their health by being preventive in their approach, and this would include ensuring that they come in for their annual health checks, for the men who are above a certain age, maybe 35 or 40, there are certain health checks you need to get done on a regular basis. and this also applies to the women as well,” she said.
Coach Olaidi Bolani Williams, head coach of Starlight F.A., one of the teams participating in the tournament, expressed appreciation for the event.
He said: “I must say a big thank you to the organizers for bringing everyone together. It’s great to see over 20 teams participating in the A-Day competition, which is not only about sports but also about raising awareness for health as athletes, we know that health is wealth, if we’re not in good health, we cannot perform at our best, and events like this are crucial for both athletes and the general public.”
The novelty match featured celebrities like, Akpororo, Senator, providing a lighter, engaging way for the public to participate in health advocacy.
The mix of sports and healthcare awareness highlighted the NGO’s creative approach to social causes, making important health services both entertaining and impactful.World Heath Day: NGO organises free medical checkup, novelty match