* Screening uncovers increase in prevalence of high blood pressure, diabetes
Determined to improve the quality of health care in Nigeria by working within the core principles of primary health care as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), INVIVO Health & Beauty stores introduced a one-stop destination for all health and beauty needs with over 10,000 Nigerians treated free of charge within a year in its three stores located in Lagos, Abuja and Ibadan.
INVIVO in a statement made available to The Guardian noted: "On commonest chronic ill-ness seen among customers, high blood pres-sure and diabetes mellitus were on the increase and to check the trend, the clinic is following up on such patients to prevent further complica-tions and ensure that their drugs are taken appropriately. Proper referral system is in place for patients who will require further investiga-tions, or more specialised care in respect to a few complicated cases that she encounters." A Director at INVIVO, Mr. John Onyeoguzoro, who said that plans are underway to have 500 stores across Nigeria, said the goal of the com-pany is to treat 2,500,000 Nigerians free of charge annually.
"Already two more outlets are currently in the pipeline and these will run a pharmacy and treatment room with a resident doctor offering free consultations on a daily basis."
Onyeoguzoro noted that INVIVO, a subsidiary of Smartmark Limited, was established to address social problems such as lack of easy access to pri-mary healthcare; the menace of counterfeit and fake dugs; self-medication; and lack of early diag-nosis of potentially fatal disease conditions.
According to the founder, Mr. Yakubu Gobir, in line with the company's objectives, INVIVO is a patient-centred and health focused business and geared to support the government towards achieving its primary healthcare goals. He said that the free health check facility in all INVI-VO stores allows patients to walk-in; get their vitals checked and a resident doctor or nurse to consult free of charge.
"Health is one of the basic rights of life, but unfor-tunately a lot of Nigerians don't have access to it." The Founder explained that the organization is managed by seasoned professionals who have spent years of their careers in the pharmaceutical sector and understands where gaps exist and to offer solutions. Narrating their experiences since inception in 2015 in Abuja, the Superintendent Pharmacist, Dr. Sunday Olatunde, noted the incidence of signifi-cant drug side effect in an hypertensive patient who has been taking a combination of two differ-ent diuretics.
"With his prescription, the patient was noticed to have developed sunken eyes, dryness of the skin and excessive thirst. This was identified, and corrected, leaving the patient happy on better combined medications for his body system."
Also conducting journalists round the INVIVO health facility in Abuja, Dr. Funmi Olaseinde dis-closed that no fewer than 3,000 patients have been treated free of charge in the last 10 months.
According to Olaseinde, the clinic offers free medical consultancy, facilitates eye checkups and glaucoma screening. Other tests she listed include; free Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/Hepatitis B screening, screening for cervi-cal cancer, Mammography as well as prostrate disease/cancer screening.
Continuing, she said that the Abuja clinic is also collaborating with the Public Health Department of the ministry of health to commence free rou-tine immunization for the infants and to also offer vaccination for Hepatitis B, Human papillo-ma virus (that causes cervical cancers, penile, anal, and oropharynx cancers, apart from genital warts) at a reduced price. Other important adult vaccines are made available as necessary.
Noting the importance of health promotion, Olaseinde hinted that the clinic is into preven-tive, health promotion services and awareness on tests available for each age group and sex.
Source: The Guardian News
ABUJA: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED
PORTHARCOURT: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED
LAGOS: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED
STOP paying for airtime and electricity, Let your phone pay its bills with ScreenT
You may also like
Comrade Lemii Christian Emerges Chairman of NANNM Rivers State Branch in Historic Victory
PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA Following the long awaited National Association of N…
FG Supports Robotic Surgery Expansion to Reduce Medical Tourism
Nigeria is taking another step toward strengthening specialised healthcare …
Complete Knee Replacement Rehabilitation Package in Lagos
Knee replacement surgery is a major step toward pain relief and improved mo…
NAMDA threatens strike over unpaid medical lecturers’ allowances
The Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) has warned…
Resident Doctors Signal End to Strike Threat After High-Level Talks with Gbajabiamila
The threat of a nationwide indefinite strike by the Nigerian Association of…
