Posted on: Fri 13-09-2024

The lawmaker representing Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency 11 in Lagos State Hon. Okey-Joe Onuakalusi has partnered Roche, other experts for free medical outreach for members of the constituency.

The 3-day free medical outreach, which took place at the Unveiling Power Multipurpose Hall in Lagos, is part of his campaigns promised to be there for the constituents in medical outreaches, healthcare and health related matters.

Onuakalusi said that the event was the first chapter of the fulfillment of the promises to members of the constituency. “We have come to fulfill the beginning of that promise of providing healthcare services to our people. In the course of time, we’re going to improve on it by collaborating with some medical agencies both national and international to ensure that we provide comprehensive healthcare to our people.

“If one looks at the cost of medical attention today, one will find out that it is above the reach of Nigerians. But if we can provide free medical services to Nigerians, it’s going to alleviate some pain especially knowing that things are really difficult.

“The National Assembly daily has reports of how difficult things are in Nigeria. If one enters the market, one will find out that the cost of paracetamol six months ago is no longer the same; the cost of malaria tablets of the same period is no longer the same.

“We must understand that a healthy citizen is a healthy nation. The health of any nation is dependent on how healthy and well their citizens are. Subsequently, we are going to have a line in my budget to ensure that we cover health facilities. In the 2024 budget, I have one medical outreach and that one is going to be a bumper event because it’s going to be financed by the federal government.”

Onuakalusi further affirmed that in this flag-off edition, invited healthcare experts were represented in various fields of healthcare and they came from different parts of the world. “We are collaborating with an Egyptian Hospital called Coptic Hospital, represented by Elizabeth Obinani, Roche Pharmaceutical, which provided the drugs we paid for and The Best Vision Center represented by an ophthalmologist Dr. Akinyemi Jimi who has, in addition to screening, gave out more than 100 eye glasses to people of various degrees of eye problems.

“Our part was to provide them with the basic money to carry out various tests, and recommend the needed drugs for treatment, and eye glasses for those who have visual challenges. Those that we couldn’t handle would be referred to a specialist hospital where they would be handled but that would be at their own expenses. But whatever medication would be given at this outreach would be free.”

“I look forward to a day where we will be able to attend to 3,000-5000 people annually for medical outreach but our target this year is to attend to 2,000 people.”

While a member of the medical team, Dr. Benjamin Eze, said “we are here to support Onuakalusi and to give him all the necessary assistance for the programme to be successful, the representative of Coptic Hospital Elizabeth Obinani thanked Onuakalusi for the opportunity given them to be part of the programme.

Also, appraising the exercise, the Labour Party woman leader in Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area (L.G.A), Mrs. Uyanna Commie described Onuakalusi representation as people oriented even as she called for a maximum support for the lawmaker who is passionate about the health and wellness of members of his constituency.

SOURCE: DAILY SUN NEWSPAPER

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