Rotary Club, foreign medical missions seek early prevention of non-communicable diseases

Rotary Club Jericho Metro, Ibadan, in partnership with some United States Medical Missions, has called for early prevention of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria, particularly hypertension.

Team Lead of the U.S medical mission, Dr Musibau Kasumu, stated this during a medical outreach in Ibadan on Monday.

Our correspondent reports that the medical outreach, organised by Rotary Jericho Metro, Ibadan, in collaboration with partners from the United States, was held at the Primary Health Centre, Aperin- Oniyere, Ibadan.

Kasumu expressed concern with how many Nigerians had failed to take advantage of primary healthcare centres in monitoring their blood pressure.

“The biggest thing is prevention, and it is better than medicine. So, most people have not been making of the primary health centres to check their blood pressure on regular basis,” he said.

Kasumu, of University of Pennsylvania, U.S.A., urged the government to make health insurance accessible and affordable so that many people can take advantage of the medical services being provided.

Also, the President of Rotary Club Jericho Metro 2023/2024, Mr Damilola Olaleye, said the essence of the medical outreach was to meet the needs of the less- privileged, adding that the club chose the Aperin-Oniyere community based on the needs assessment.

Olaleye, who stated that the club usually embarked on annual medical outreaches, said that this year’s edition would focus on cervical screening, breast cancer, hypertension, arthritis and dental services for no fewer than 500 people.

He urged governments at all levels to partner with Rotary Club for effective implementation and delivery of social services to people at the grassroots.

“If the government can partner with Rotary Club, it will go a long way in covering a long mile and we will all see that our society will be free from menial aliment that can be easily taken care of before it gets worse.

“That is why we are using the PHC because it is very close to the community before you can get to the main hospital,” Olaleye said.

Two of the beneficiaries, Mrs Funmilayo Adesina and Mr Osuntayo Oyelere, who spoke with our correspondent, commended the club for its kind gesture, saying that it would go a long way in meeting the health needs of most residents of the community.

Our correspondent reports that some of the partners include: Ken and Sarah George, Naykas HealthCare and USA, ConnectDCare Inc. USA, among others.