Beneficiaries of the Free Health Mission, a medical intervention programme of the Ekiti State Government, have appealed to Governor Kayode Fayemi to ensure the sustenance of the project.
Over 65,000 people living in the grassroots areas in Ekiti State benefited from the seventh edition of the Free Health Mission organised by the state government in conjunction with the members of the State House of Assembly.
Patients who trooped out in large numbers to avail themselves of the opportunity said the provision of free treatment, drugs and medicated glasses are “examples of dividends of democracy from a benevolent administration.”
A beneficiary in Odo-Ayedun in Ikole Local Government Area, Mr. Albert Iyunade, said the programme brought relief to those suffering from hypertension, diabetes, eye and dental defects.
He said most of the beneficiaries of the mission are poor and may not be able to afford some drugs needed to tackle their health challenges.
A beneficiary in Aisegba in Aiyekire Local Government Area, Mrs. Opeyemi Awe, said the programme remains one of the best policies of the Fayemi administration urging the governor to ensure its continuity.
Speaking with reporters while reviewing the exercise on Tuesday, Commissioner for Health, Prof. Olusola Fasubaa, said the Free Health Mission was taken to thirteen of the twenty-six constituencies in the state.
Fasubaa expressed satisfaction with the impressive turnouts of the people in the communities touched.
He revealed that the next edition of the medical intervention programme will be held in the remaining thirteen constituencies later in the year to give more residents benefit from the programme.
The commissioner noted that the programme succeeded in realizing its main objective of providing medical outpatient services, dental care, eye care services, simple emergency services and provision of essential drugs.
Fasubaa added that the Free Health Mission also helped to generate statistics that will assist the government in its health care agenda and implement policies that will boost life expectancy in the state.
Head of the team of doctors in the mission, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, revealed that many of the patients especially those suffering from hypertension and diabetes were not aware of their health status until they were subjected to medical tests.
Fasawe said: “Lots of them have hypertension, diabetes and many of them don’t even know that they have such aliments. Through the mission we made them to realize their health challenges and how to prevent them.”
She explained that medical personnel being used for the programme were complementing those in various government hospitals.
Last modified: November 24, 2021
