More than 800 less-privileged people have benefited from the free medical surgery and screening outreach organised by an Islamic Non-Governmental Organisation, Al-Ansor Trust Fund (ATF) in Ibadan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the beneficiaries cut across different religions and ethnicities within Oyo State and other parts of the South-West region.
The ATF treatment includes free hernia surgery, cervical cancer screening, dental consultation and treatment, eye examination and treatment, as well as distribution of free eye glasses, among others.
Dr Ridwan Salam, the Oyo State Coordinator of ATF, at the closing of the three-day event on Sunday, said their aim was to cater for the health needs of the less-privileged, irrespective of religion or ethnicity.
Salam said that the 9th edition of the annual outreach offered a lot of services to less-privileged people, while a number of people had benefited in the last three days.
“In surgery alone, we have operated about 200 people, while about another 200 have also benefited from cervical cancer screening.
“More than 400 people benefitted in the eye screening and 100 plus benefitted in dental care and treatment,” he said.
The coordinator said that the outreach was one of ATF ways of impacting on the lives of the less-privileged people who were facing one form of health challenges or the other.
He said the beneficiaries of the programme were not only people from Oyo State, but also from Kwara, Lagos, Ogun and Osun States.
Salam appreciated the volunteers, sponsors and donors for their participation and support toward the success of the programme.
He further called on well-meaning Nigerians to sponsor the outreach in order to touch the lives of more less-privileged people in the society.
Also, Dr Wulaimat Adekunle, one of the doctors perfoming surgeries, said that children, adults, and elderly of both sex also benefited from the outreach.
“A lot of people cannot afford the cost of health due to the economic challenges in the country, hence, the programme is a way of given back to the society as Muslims and as health workers,” he said.
A beneficiary, Mrs Adeola Oguntoye, whose two-year-old child was operated for hernia, appreciated ATF for the free surgery, and explained that the treatment would have cost her about N150,000 if she was to pay for it.
Mrs Fausat Adebisi, another beneficiary of eye treatment and free glasses, thanked the organiser for attending to the health needs of the less-privileged in the society and putting smiles on their faces. (NAN)