By Perpetua Egesimba
A non-governmental organisation, Joy Welfare and Charity Ministry, Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Ayo Ni-O, recently collaborated with Rotarians for Family Health and Aids Prevention to stage free health services in Lagos.
The event, Rotary Family Health Day, had participants tested, screened and examined for 15 various health challenges.
The three-day event, which took place at the premises of the Ayo Ni-O Church at Ijeshatedo, Lagos, had about 2000 people examined on cervical, breast and prostate cancer, Hepatitis B and C, HIV, diabetes and glucose level, hypertension, tuberculosis and others. There were also polio Immunisation, Vitamin A and B administration, deworming for children, malaria screening and treatment, cataract tests and treatment and dental care.
The event also featured family counselling, just as insecticide treated nets, sanitary pads and condoms were distributed.
District Chairman and General Leader of the church, Dr. Sunday Funsho Korode said, the spirit behind the mission was compassion for the needy and less privileged people in the society.
“This caring heart philosophy that drives our common concern for our society is further highlighted by the comprehensive nature of the area of coverage in man’s ailment, and almost everybody has one area or the other to benefit from during the programme,” he said.
He enjoined more groups and individuals to partner with the church to bring succour and relief to the society in these times of austerity and recession.
He reiterated that collaborations would help to garner resources worldwide and nationwide and channel such to meet needs in critical cases and areas.
The Supervising Apostle and Alternate Supervising Apostle of Joy Welfare and Charity Ministry NGO, Special Apostle, Benjamin Alaka, and Mrs. Agbeke Ogunsanwo both said the NGO takes care of those in need.
“This unit of Rotary does something like this every three years. They first started with children infected with Aids. Then with the possibility of a whole family being infected, they now made it a whole family affair. This is one of our own programmes here whereby we look at the health status of our members, where we test for prostate cancer for the male, and then cervical and breast cancer for the women. We also do eye and dental ophthalmological care.”
According to Ogunsanwo, earlier in 2017, the group y did cervical and breast and wanted to do prostate when it learnt that Rotary would be coming up with their programme and decided to collapse theirs into Rotary’s.
“We did that because theirs is a bigger platform. They now made ours one of their four sites. They are doing this same exercise in three places and they have 15 areas to treat.”
She said before the event proper, over 1800 persons were registered, adding that it was a humanitarian service for people within the community. He noted that people benefitted in communities like Cele, Aguda, Festac side, Igamu, Ijesha, and Surulere.
Project Director of the NGO, Pastor Mrs. Atinuke Oyenuga, said prosperity in the area of health was more important than any other prosperity, noting that it is those with good health that can go after their daily bread. She advised people to be mindful of what they eat and take care of themselves to remain healthy.
She advised the Rotary Club to expand the programme to thrice a year.
“I would also love to see Rotary look at other prevailing problems like the renal and kidney failure. After the screening, if there are cases that need surgery, we will refer them to the Rotary office,” she stated.
In his health talk on Dental Health and Screening, Dr. Mustapha Lekan from Rotary Club explained that a lot of habits could affect one’s oral health, ranging from poor oral hygiene like not brushing the teeth properly to the intake of certain diets like alcohol and smoking.
“We are talking about what people need to know about oral health, how to take care of oral health, when they need to see a dentist, things that will improve their oral health and what will make it worst.”
He advised that people should brush their teeth at least twice a day, limit the sticky food like plantain and sugary substances they take and make sure they brush properly if they must take them.
“However, brushing your teeth daily is not just enough. Brush with the right toothbrush, medium for the adolescent. But for the children, we normally recommend a soft tooth brush and a toothpaste that contains fluoride.”