258 benefit from NAS free medical mission

At least, 258 patients have benefitted from the free medical mission organised by the National Association of Seadogs (NAS), for residents of Ilodo-Ijebu in Ijebu-East Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Ogun State.
The association said it singled out the community as beneficiary of its medical mission as a result of lack of primary healthcare delivery centre in the area. The free medical mission was part of activities that marked the NAS Quarter One Pyrates Working Committee meeting held in Ijebu-Ode. Its national president, Chief Arthur Boje, ascribed the failure of leaders to the poor health care delivery system being witnessed in the country. He said leaders should be ashamed of themselves for their inability to provide the needed social amenities to the people who choose them.
He said it was sad that the country being the most populous country in Africa failed to address the health needs of her citizens: “We go to neglected community and it is basically due to the failures of our various leaders to provide healthcare facilities in remote areas, just like this. “We are here to provide free medical facilities, free medical care to the communities that are disadvantaged. If the government has failed and we have passionate citizens who are ready pull resources together, it will be good. We are doing this because government has failed to do the needful.” A 31-year-old cripple, Mr. Nelson Akpowone, who was given a wheel chair, said he had been crawling on the ground for over 20 years: “I really commend the association for this because I have been crawling on the ground for 20 years and with the wheel chair I can move around. I am planning to study further if help comes my way.”
Another 88-year-old woman, Mrs. Oyinade Erugbe, who also got wheel chair said: “I am elated that this association has come to my rescue by donating this wheel chair and crutches to me. I had wished for it long ago.”
The Coordinator of NAS in Ijebu-Ode, Mr. Jamal Apena, said the choice of Ilodo-Ijebu for the medical mission was meant to also draw government’s attention to the plight of the people. Head of Medicals, Dr. Bassey Ntekim, said the team was able to examine 256 people for various health challenges, ranging from hypertension, diabetes, malaria, chest pain and eye test. He said they also de-wormed all the children in the community, saying they also came with ambulance in case of any emergency.