4th December, 2017
The Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, has commenced free medical treatment for over 1,000 patients, according to Prof. Bernice Adegbehingbe, Dean of the faculty.
Adegbehingbe, also an Opthalmologist, made the disclosure during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ile-Ife on Monday.
Adegbehingbe said that the exercise was to assist the people benefit, health wise, from the 10th annual faculty week and scientific conference of the institution.
She also said the exercise was the only way the faculty could contribute its quota to the development of the community.
The dean said the faculty realised that there were many Nigerians, who due to poverty, could not pay hospital bills, hence the need to organise the programme to help them seek health.
‘’For them to benefit from us, we have to take free medical healthcare to their doorstep.’’ she said.
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Adegbehingbe enumerated the free medical healthcare services for the people to include: Free consultation, free blood test, free eye test with glasses and other medical tests.
She lauded members of the staff of the faculty for their cooperation, especially for contributing part of their salary to organise the programme and the drug agencies, pharmacists, NGOs that donated drugs to support the event.
She appealed to members of the public to make it a point of duty by going for regular medical check-up and ensure they constantly partake in regular physical exercise.
Also, Prof. Rasaq Adebayo, Consultant Cardiologist of the hospital, said that the rationale behind the exercise was to assist government in improving health condition of the people, especially the rural populace.
Adebayo appealed to people to desist from indulging in self medication but visit government approved hospital for proper medical treatment.
He also advised patients to take their drugs as prescribed by physicians, reduce consumable items such as salt, oil and sugar, to reduce adverse effects of such food on their health.
Mrs Alice Adetunji, one of the beneficiaries of the programme, who spoke on behalf of others, commended the organiser of the programme for the gesture.
She called on other faculties of the institution to emulate the example of the faculty by assisting the less privileged in the society.