The Indian community in Nigeria under the auspices of Rotary Club, Palmgrove Estate, Lagos has conducted a free health camp for Lagosians who thronged the Palmgroove Estate, venue of the event. The free health camp is conducted five times a year.
The aged, mothers and children formed a large percentage of beneficiaries of the health camp.
District 9110 President of the Rotary Club International,Mr Venugopal Jajoo, said the gesture was an offshoot of other people-oriented activities of the club aimed at contributing to healthy living.
“We have done a substantial amount of work in the district. Our star project, the Eye Camp, had been completed with over one thousand people benefiting from free eye glasses and treatment,” he said.
He continued: “We want all the people around us to be healthy. They can check their health status, and we have provided medication for minor ailments. In the case of major ailments, we can counsel them and refer them to an appropriate medical centre.”
Mr Oloyede Joel, a 67-year-man, who was one of the beneficiaries of the health camp, could not hide his happiness as he thanked the organisers for the kind gesture. “I thank them so much because these drugs they gave me free of charge would have cost me a lot. I didn’t have to pay for anything,” he said.
Mr Johnson Oyiora, a 72-year-old retiree, who attended the Eye Camp in 2012, also participated in the recent exercise. “I got to know about this programme through a friend of mine and I decided to give it a try. I was here for the first time in 2012 for my eye problem and they cured it for me. Now I can read without my glasses,” he announced.
He further said: “The Indian community is doing a great job. The members have come to do what our leaders have failed to do for us. I could have spent more than N300,000 for my eye problem. My elder brother, who had a similar problem spent about that amount to be treated in a government hospital. Where would I see such money? God answered my prayer and I was able to get treatment free of charge.”
Meanwhile, the Rotary Club of Festac Central has held a free cancer screening for residents of Festac Town in Lagos Metropolis.
The exercise, a help initiative for the communitywas done in conjunction with Amuwo Odofin Local Government to ensure that those in that axis are health conscious.
They were screened for high blood pressure, diabetes. So also for prostrate, cervical and breast cancer.
They were taught on the importance of giving attention to their health by avoiding self-medication, which has led to many deaths.
President of Rotary Club of Festac, Mrs Anthonia Agugoesi said the progamme was organised to underscore the importance of health in the society and to run fundamental tests to avail people of the opportunity to know their status and administer medication to those that might test positive to any of the screenings.
“The detection is for earlier treatment and the medication is to get them started and counsel them on the importance of knowing their health status and give it the needed attention, since early detection is 90 per cent cure for every sickness,” she said.
Also speaking, the Convener of Cancer Management, Mrs Yetunde Osifosan said the major causes of cancer is stress, change in lifestyle and gene.
The most common cancers in women are the breast and cervix cancer. In other cases, the colon.
“Men from ages 40 to 50 have the tendencies of having prostrate cancer. They also have colon cancer due to their eating habits or lifestyle. They were taught techniques for self breast examination, to be done monthly, possibly five to six days after menstruation.
At the event, overall healthy well-being products were given at affordable prices.
