SOFPON takes health awareness, screening to Computer Village Lagos

The Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria (SOFPON) on Saturday conducted a medical outreach at the Computer Village, Lagos, to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases.

Dr Sixtus Ozuomba, Chairman, SOFPON, Lagos Chapter, said this during the association’s medical outreach in celebration of the World Family Doctors Day in Lagos.

The day celebrated annually on May 19 had its 2022 theme as: “Family Doctors, Always There To Care.”

Ozuomba said that access to affordable healthcare was a basic human necessity, noting that activities of the association were geared toward preventive health promotion and elimination of barriers to healthcare.

“We brought healthcare to the doorstep of those that we know find it difficult to go to the hospital, not because they don’t have money, but because the awareness is not there.

“You may be a Ph.d holder but be ignorant of health matters.

“The choice of Computer Village is because many people in their productive years are plenty here and as we know, that one person might have strings of persons in the family whose lives depend on him.

“If this young man goes down medically, that might be the end for the dreams of many other persons. That’s why we are here, to sustain the ripple effects.

“These people who are in the prime of their life might not know they have diabetes or hypertension, but we will pick it here, give them care and refer them to a hospital for more treatment,” he said.

He noted that the medical outreach included health sensitisation, free consultation with physicians, screening for diabetes, blood pressure, hepatitis B and distribution of free drugs.

Speaking on the theme for the year’s celebration, Ozuomba noted that the three pillars of the theme: ‘Always, There and Care’ captured effectively some of the core tenets of a family physician.

According to him, a family physician ensures continuity of care at all stages of the patient’s life, and at the front line, even during unusual health events, and create a bond of trust with his patients.

He noted that the care pillar represented the responsibilities and the privileges the family physician has in ensuring the provision of accessible, equitable, sustainable and high quality care to his patients.

Ozuomba said that the responsibilities were done in the context of their family and community, including advocacy to guarantee fundamental rights to health.