Posted on: Thu 29-08-2024

A Non-governmental organisation, Rescue Foundation, in collaboration with Doctors’ Health Initiative and Beacon Hills Smiles Foundation has provided medical services to over 150 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Epecommunity, Lagos.

The medical outreach team made up of general physicians, optometrists, dentists, and other health workers during the outreach carried out dental procedures on two individuals, while the optometrists recommended glasses to some IDPs, mostly the elderly and provided them with free glasses.

Apart from conducting other medical tests such as blood sugar level, typhoid, and blood pressure, the team also provided the IDPs with free drugs. Speaking at the event, Founder, of Rescue Foundation, Mrs Ogonna Kanu, said the group is working to create awareness of the displacement crisis in Nigeria and to cater to the basic needs of displaced people.

She said the foundation organised the medical outreach to help with the health challenges of IDPs who are in the low-income cadre. “These people earn a pittance. Most often you find when they have ailments, they rather look for other means or when they think of going to the hospital and the costs, they would rather do traditional or home remedies. We thought it would be good to offer them some basic healthcare,” Kanu said.

She lamented that there are still people with greater health challenges but without support, they will not seek medical treatment due to the cost. “IDPs, I believe, should be able to get some level of healthcare from the government for free. If this is available, it will go a long way and we may not even need to conduct medical outreach.”

She said concerned organisations and individuals can join in the foundation’s mission to IDPs and help alleviate their plights. The foundation plans to go beyond medical outreach and focus on helping IDPs with basic needs, shelter, and education.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER

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