By Adeola Ogunlade
Hundreds of drivers across Lagos have benefited from a One Day Free Medical Rescue Mission held yesterday by Lagos State Parks and Garages in partnership with Eko Club of Atlanta. The outreach drew over 800 drivers who gathered at the LASPG Secretariat, Agege, Lagos as early as 8:00 am. They were attended to by a medical team comprising doctors, consultants, nurses, dentists, lab technicians, ophthalmology, and other public health personnel from Atlanta, United State of America and Nigeria.
The medical outreach featured wide range of quality and comprehensive health care services such as eyes screening, laboratory test (urine and blood), malaria, dental checks, Laboratory testing, blood pressure, blood sugar test, breast cancer screening, diabetes and heart checkups among others.
Drugs worth tens of thousands were donated by Eko Club of Atlanta, and distributed to beneficiaries after the test carried out, with eyeglasses given to those needing them.
Speaking at the event, the Lead Physician, Eko Club of Atlanta, Dr. Olabisi Dagun said that the visit was in commitment of the club’s effort at helping the needy and the poor in our society.
She said that Eko Club of Atlanta has history of taking care of Lagos indigenes. We have been coming to Nigeria since 2006 to provide free medical interventions in Lagos. We started with Randle Medical Centre where a lot of medical outreaches and interventions have been carried out. We have been to different parts of Lagos.
Dagun posited that the health care intervention is aimed at reaching out to drivers in Lagos and sensitize them about some of their health conditions and encourage them to always go for medical checkups.
“Health is wealth and for drivers to enjoy their wealth, effort must be made to go for regular medical checkups. From the results of the tests that we have, we realised that a lot of the drivers are having high blood pressure and diabetes which are mind boggling”.
She noted that high blood pressure if unchecked can cause kidney problem, and patients can go down with stroke, adding that regular check up can be done by visiting the Primary Health Centres or competent doctors. Also reduction of salt intake, fatty foods, regular exercise and regular intake of fruits and vegetable is good to keep one body healthy and strong.
Responding to the kind gesture, the Chairman of Lagos State Parks and Garages, Musiliu Akinsanya thanked Eko Club of Atlanta for their effort which according to him is in furtherance of his administration commitment to ensure that Lagos is free of road crashes.
Akinsanya noted that if you are in this world and you are not taking care of your health, a lot of things will happen, adding that taking care of once health is not negotiable.
He added “a healthy driver will lead to a safer road. We are concern about the wellbeing of our members. We will continue encourage them to go for medical checkup, avoid drinking alcohol and other unhealthy activities while driving”.
He reminded the drivers of the Health lnsurance programme put in place for drivers and their families in Lagos which he stressed will enable them access free health care in Lagos.