A significant stride in community healthcare has emerged as the Heritage Advancement Forum (HAF) orchestrated a comprehensive medical outreach, benefiting over 350 inhabitants of the Idi-Araba community in Lagos State.
Organised by HAF, this initiative took place on a recent Saturday in Lagos, showcasing the commendable efforts of the organisation towards enhancing the well-being of indigent Nigerians.
Mr. Aaron Irabor, President of HAF, conveyed that the medical outreach provided essential healthcare provisions to both adults and children within the community, aiming to bridge the accessibility gap for those unable to afford medical expenses. He articulated, “A lot of people with one underlying ailment or another are dying in silence because they can’t afford the exorbitant hospital bills.” His words emphasised the outreach’s commitment to delivering healthcare services to underserved areas, with this initiative being a cornerstone of HAF’s mission since its inception in 2018.
In addition to the medical outreach, HAF has embarked on a journey to uplift less privileged children by initiating scholarship programmes. Mr. Irabor revealed, “We have decided to kick off a scholarship programme aimed at catering for the education needs of the less privileged children from primary to secondary school level.” The organisation’s dedication to providing educational opportunities reflects its holistic approach to community well-being.
Mr. Anegbode Odion, Vice President of HAF, emphasised the organisation’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that essential healthcare services remain accessible to the masses. The medical outreach encompassed an array of services, including screenings for blood pressure, diabetes, eye health, HIV, tuberculosis, and general body check-ups. Odion affirmed, “The outreach is being carried out twice in a year; this is the first phase of it in 2023, and the second phase may take place in the next two or three months.” His statements underscored HAF’s dedication to continuity and the comprehensive nature of its outreach.
Addressing the healthcare challenges faced by Nigerian adults, Dr. Adedemola Adeogun, a general physician and consulting doctor at the event, urged individuals to prioritise their health and undergo regular medical check-ups. He stressed, “Every family is supposed to have the BP testing apparatus to enable them to maintain a regular check on their BP status, but in situations where they cannot afford the BP testing apparatus, a regular visit to the nearest healthcare facility is advisable.” His expert advice illuminated the critical role of regular check-ups in maintaining health.
Beneficiaries like Mrs. Usaina Aliyu-Umar expressed their gratitude for the chance HAF had given them to access healthcare services while acknowledging the impact of the medical outreach. She illuminated the hardships faced by many residents due to economic difficulties, urging the government to intensify efforts to make healthcare services more available and affordable for underserved communities.
Another beneficiary, Mr. Abubakar Ibrahim, unveiled the eye-opening aspect of the outreach, stating that he was unaware of his hypertensive condition until consulting the doctors during the event. His experience highlighted the significance of initiatives like HAF’s medical outreach in detecting and addressing health concerns among disadvantaged individuals.
