The University College Hospital, Ibadan will begin free screening and treatment of indigent patients suffering from non-communicable diseases in Oyo State.

 

According to the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, was made available courtesy of funds from the Federal Government under the Ministry of Health’s Rapid Results Initiative Programme, which he said was aimed at providing free treatment for 10,000 indigents suffering from diseases, such as cataract, cleft lip, inguino-scrotal hernia, infantile hydrocele, hypertension and diabetes across the country.

 

The Chief Medical Director of the teaching hospital, Prof. Temitope Alonge, told journalists in Ibadan on Monday that the hospital had been mandated to screen and treat 545 people in Oyo State, adding however that the hospital would be ready to go beyond the figure as part of its corporate social responsibilities.

 

He said UCH was one of the 55 centres designated for the RRI programme which has begun at the Akinyele Local Council area of Ibadan where people would be screened.

 

The CMD added that apart from minor treatment, those who required surgery would benefit from the programme.

 

Alonge stated that the RRI project was limited to non-communicable diseases because study had showed that such diseases killed more people as little attention was paid to these categories of illnesses.