By Bianca Iboma-Emefu
Former Managing Director of Cosmic Insurance Brokers, Dr. Teslim Sanusi, has decided to colour his 80th birthday celebration by offering free medical services to over 8000 indigent Nigerians, particularly those at the grassroots.
Sanusi said the gesture which is also a way of giving back to the society was made possible by his family friends, Lions Club and insurance brokers.
A medical outreach that would offer free medical eyeglasses, conduct free eye screening and treatment, free cataract surgery and tutorials on prevention and management of diabetes are part of the celebration slated for December 23. He said the exercise would be held at five locations: Ilupeju Lions Club Diabetes Centre, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital; LCIF/MD 404 Eye Centre at State Hospital, Ota, Ogun State; Insurance Brokers House; Erin Ile Progressive Union (EPU) Shopping and Warehouse Complex, Erin Ile, Kwara State; and Eye, Diabetes and Dialysis Complex Erin-Ile, Kwara State.
“I decided to show love to my country people by bringing basic medical services to their door steps and enlightening them on the need to be health conscious at all time. I feel very sad each time I see the indigent trying to survive, yet faced with some health challenges. It is necessary to put smiles on the faces of this category of people,” he said.
Sanusi lamented that the government and corporate bodies that are supposed to champion such crusades have totally failed. He said: “This is part of the root cause of the lack of love and pervasive spread of criminality, poverty and destitution in the country like ours that is so hugely blessed. In the event of not being able to afford the basic things of life, many turn to other inordinate ways to survive. It would continue to remain my submission that for as long as there is no efforts to create comfort for the poor, the security of the few in our society would never be guaranteed.
“Instead of spending huge amount of money on financing security, which to me is a reactive measure, the government should do more to give and provide social welfare and champion the course of the needy. The same should be the lots of the private sector, in order to guarantee their sustainability and business survival.”
He also tasked the employers of labour on the need to adhere to the law that provides for at least one percent recruitment quota for the physically challenged, bearing in mind that an orderly and all-inclusive society could only be achieved when every being has a strong sense of contentment and belonging, irrespective of what providence has foisted on them.
He quoted the legendary Mother Theresa to drive home his point, saying: “The world would be a clean place if everyone sweeps his doorsteps.”
Five years ago, Sanusi equally held a similar exercise when he spearheaded the construction of an eye centre, in collaboration with the Ogun State Government, as the Lions Club District Governor 404B Nigeria.
On the motivation for the exercise, the octogenarian, said his wife and children suggested that the family should reach out to the poor as a way of marking his 80 years of earthly sojourn.
He commended the beneficiaries for being part of the event, and urged Nigerians to always make giving an integral part of their lives.
One of the beneficiaries who would soon go under cataract surgery could not contain her emotions as she prostrated after receiving the first round of medical attention, thanking the benefactor and wishing him more years in good health. Many others who saw what happened at the event left the venue with tears of joy, and heart full of praises for the kind gesture, even as they prayed that God would continue to preserve Sanusi in sound health of mind and body.