Prevention Of Diseases: Edo State Govt Collaborates Rotary Family

By Simeon OSAJIE

In her efforts of taking extra measures in improving the healthcare needs of the people through the connectivity of the healthcare facilities to fibre optics with capability to convert to telemedicine, Edo State government has collaborated Rotary Family Health Day.

This is as the Rotary Action Group for Family Health and Aids Prevention in Collaboration with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation officially flagged off the Annual Free Nationwide Health Service Event tagged: “Rotary Family Health Days” at the New Benin Primary Healthcare Centre, Benin City, Edo State capital.

Speaking at the flag off ceremony, Dr. Omosigho Izedomwen, Executive Secretary, Edo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, expressed satisfaction with the approach being used by the Rotary Club and also for the use of the government healthcare facility at the New Benin Primary Healthcare.

While commending the Rotary Club for the free healthcare services to members of the community, Dr. Izedomwen noted that often times the people think the government is a spirit that lives from the sky, pointed out that government is all of us, so when we all collaborate, we will find out that we can dispatch some of these things easily. It is not just the duty of members of Rotary Club alone but everyone is free to kin into it.

He also used the occasion to call on Doctors, Nurses and others who are far off to donate a token of their time to seeing patients via telemedicine as this is when their contribution will be felt in the society.

In his brief remark, the National Coordinator for Rotary Family Health Days, PDG Bola Oyebode said most of the activities being carried out entails screening, texting the people and certain referrals so that the people can know their health status and eventually take proper treatment.

He however noted there are some little treatments Rotary is able to finance through some Rotary Club or noble bodies while there are some that might not be able to sustain and fund. “In that level they just do a referral to people and they are able to get the treatment that they might require”, he added.

Also speaking, a representative of the District Governor, Ikponmwosa Ogiemudia appreciated Governor Godwin Obaseki for the opportunity given to them to make use of the facility, noting that the main focus of the Rotary Family Health Days is to render free healthcare services to the people especially those in the rural areas.

The District Coordinator, Andrew Oiboh said the flag off of the free Rotary Family Health Days is to put more awareness to what Rotary is doing to humanity in the world and that it is something they do for humanity and enjoy doing it because through that desire, one or two persons will be taken care off.

The three days free healthcare services includes the Malaria Screening and Treatment, HIV Texting and Counseling, Hepatitis B&C, Eye Testing, Dental Care, Deworming for Children, Distribution of free Mosquito Nets, Prostrates Cancer Screening, amongst others.