Foundation Organises one-week medical outreach

By Tobi Awodipe

24 August 2024   |   3:51 am

Poised to help as many Lagos residents as possible in taking care of their different health challenges, the Onome Omobolaji Obada Foundation (OOOF) last week partnered with Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to stage a one-week medical outreach at the Military Hospital, Ikoyi, Lagos.

 
The Founder and Convener, United Lagos and Chairperson, OOOF, Votu Obada, said the foundation was created to honour and immortalise his late sister who died from sickle-cell disease.

“We brought the outreach to Lagos at the governor’s behest and because we know people often tend to forget about their health because of the busy lifestyle here. This is the third edition but the first time in Lagos.”
  
Obada said the one-week outreach saw over 5000 people being attended to and hundreds surgical operations, eye surgeries, dental works, routine checkups with severe cases referred to specialist hospitals.

He said they plan to broaden their scope by partnering with international cardiac doctors to take care of cardiac issues as well. “We worked with United Lagos and the Military Hospital on this project. I must also thank Governor Sanwo-Olu who insisted we come to Lagos. It was his idea and he supported us all the way. We hope to take this to at least 10 locations across the state next time.

I’m calling on well-meaning Nigerians to take up different projects across board to help one another, the future is about collaboration,” he said. Project coordinator, Chidi Nwakpa, said the turnout was impressive. “This outreach has been very impactful because we saw people battling health issues for years but couldn’t do anything about it because of funds. People came from as far as Delta, Ibadan and Osun states to be here, it humbled us so much,” he said.
  
Adebayo Bolatito, who underwent a fibroid operation, said she was originally supposed to undergo surgery at Military Hospital in Ibadan because she was informed about the health mission. “I was told I would need N500, 000 for the fibroid operation, which I don’t have.”
 
Praising the organisers, she thanked them for their benevolence and philanthropy. “When I was told I would need surgery, I was so afraid, not just for the operation itself, but the funds. We have not even eaten, where would I get half a million from? They saved my life,” she said.
 
Another beneficiary, Rukayat Yakub who also underwent fibroid removal, said she had been battling with the ailment for over two years with no help. A mother of four, she said they struggled to get by and couldn’t afford hospital visits but when the pain became unbearable.”  She thanked Lagos State governor and the foundation for coming to her aid as well as other beneficiaries.