Being part of the ways to increase life expectancy in Ekiti State , the Senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District and Nigerian Medical Association(NMA) have partnered to give free medical services to 500 poor Ekiti citizens.

 

The partnership, according to Bamidele, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, was targeted at palliating the sufferings of the poor masses, who lack the financial wherewithal to seek medical services in hospitals.

Bamidele spoke in Iyin Ekiti, on Monday, during the medical intervention programme flagged off to mark the 2022 Physicians’ Week organised by the NMA, Ekiti chapter.

The federal lawmaker, represented by his Senior Legislative Assistant, Hon Bunmi Oguntuase, said the free medical services, was an initiative designed to respond to the poor health indices, suggesting that Ekiti has one of the worst cases of infant and maternal mortality in the Southwest.

The Chairman, Southern Senators’ Forum said those slated to benefit from.the programme are widows, the elderly, children, pregnant women and those with life-threatening ailments across the 57 Wards in Ekiti Central Senatorial Zone.

The Senator added that the programme was part of his people-oriented welfare programmes for the people of Ekiti Central Senatorial District.

Bamidele stated that he decided to initiate the programme in partnership with experts in NMA to rescue those being afflicted with diseases like hypertension, diabetes, asthma and malaria, among others.

He said the high cost of medical services across the country has caused untimely death of many Nigerians, saying this programme would create a window of opportunity for many citizens to have their health challenges resolved.

Bamidele said: “This programme was initiated in partnership with NMA to give our people succour. It was sad and bad that many citizens used to die of hypertension just because they couldn’t afford N500 drugs. This is a window for them to get treated free.

“What we do is that, the medical officers on ground will test and those whose cases require drugs will be given free. Those who needevtreatment will be offered free. But those who have serious health cases will be referred to Specialist hospitals.

“We need to intervene and save our people from unavoidable deaths. As leaders, we shouldn’t watch helplessly and allow our people to die of ailments that ordinarily could have been treated easily.

“If you look at the situation of Nigeria now in terms of life expectancy, one would have cause to express shock. Ekiti State had the highest life expectancy, which was 55 years, and it is gradually reducing to 47 now.

“We shouldn’t be happy at the startling statistics being reeled out by UNICEF that Ekiti has the highest infant and maternal mortality rate in the Southwest Nigeria. This is part of the efforts to stem the tide”.

The NMA Chairman in Ekiti, Dr. Babatunde Rosiji, revealed that the free intervention programme will also be organised in Ikogosi Ekiti, Ekiti Central Senatorial District and be extended to other towns in due course.

Rosiji said the programme was part of the Corporate Social Responsibilities of NMA to Ekiti people, and a way of partnering stakeholders to improve the wellbeing of the afflicted citizens of the State.

Rosiji added that the programme was a multidisciplinary concept, ranging from Ultrasound, Gynaecology, radiology, general medicine and free drugs.

“We appreciate Senator Opeyemi Bamidele for keying into this partnership. It will go a long way in reducing the burden on our people, especially the poor citizens and rural dwellers”.