Ogun, Rotary offer free surgical operation to patients

The Ogun State government, in collaboration with Rotary International, says it will continue to provide a free surgical operation for the poor patients of the state, this it said in their 8-day medical and surgical mission in the State, adding that the philosophy was aiming at reducing the overhead cost associated with the large charities by providing volunteers with the chance to be part owner of the organization.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, stated this while flagging off the event at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, Ogun State. He said the Governor has given them the mandate to work with partners both local and international in making life more better and meaningful for the poor masses of the state.

Ipaye added that the programme was organized by the state government in conjunction with Rotary International District 9110 Nigeria, Rotary International 3020 India, and Rotary International 3610 South Korea, noting that it would afford the state to identify priority on surgical cases for those that has no capacity to pay their medical bills or travel abroad for any medical treatment and it would be administered on everybody irrespective of their economic status because its free of charge.

He said that no fewer than 400 prospective beneficiaries would be benefited from the programme, saying that provision of free and quality health care service for the masses would continue to be the state government priority.

He said that the medical tourism was a global phenomenon and there are some reasons for people going abroad for medical check-up, some would not get well until he got to abroad for treatment while some who does not have the means dies untimely, urging the federal government to do more on health sector in order to reduce medical tourism and the overhead cost of the patients paying in dollars.

“As you can see here today that we are attending to about 400 beneficiaries for free of charge and you know how much it would gulp in dollar or pounds if travelling for US or UK for such treatment. That is more reason we are calling on the government of the day to pay priority on health sector so as to reduce capital being spent in abroad for medical treatment”, Ipaye said.

The Elepe of Epe and President Remo Traditional Council, Alayeluwa Oba Adewale Osinderu, said the programme was unprecedented as the people earnestly aspiring for such a programme to come in the state, appreciating the state for the giant strides being recorded for bringing the programme to their door step.

“Don’t you know how much it cost for travelling abroad for medical check-up talk less going for medical surgery, at least 400 people would be benefited from the surgical mission. We thank the state government and the Rotary International for deem it fit to come up with this programme”, Elepe said.

Earlier in his speech, the High Commission of India in Nigeria, Mr. Jagdeep Kapoor said the free surgical mission was to be done with seven India Medical Doctors in the state for free of charge, saying that they chose the state because of the Rotary International Nigeria prefer the state for others.

He hailed the state government, Rotary International Nigeria and the patients for their hospitality and steadfastness, noting that those on exceptional cases would not be attend to but refer to the hospital  because the programme slated for only eight days.

Among the patients to attend to were those with cataract, gynecological diseases such as myoma, uterine prolapse, hernia, glaucoma, ovarian cyst, breast biopsy, burn excision/debridement, dental restoration, gastic bypass, caesarean section and those that has breast mass amongst other diseases