*Mr Samson Olaniyan (2nd left) and Mr Layi Atanda (2nd right) with the medical team
Over 100 residents of the Asipa community of Ayobo, Lagos State at the weekend benefitted from a medical outreach organised by the Shakirat Atanda Hope Foundation.
The programme, which has a full compliment of medical doctors and close to 10 nurses started early as residents of the community trooped into the Asipa Central Mosque venue of the programme to have their health vitals checked.
Participants were checked for BP, weight and sugar test. Drugs were also provided to all.
One of the nurses also delivered a lecture on health, with focus on diabetes and high blood pressure.
She said though these are mostly hereditary, while age could also be a cause. According to her, while organs age, people might start experiencing any of these ailments.
Shae advised people to watch the kinds of food they eat, as this could also lead to either, which is why young persons these days also develop hypertension and diabetes.
Another cause she said is lifestyle choices, especially said sedentary lifestyle. She therefore advocates physical exercises and work outs.
Speaking on the signs of hypertension, she said stress could be a cause. She advised that people should conduct at least three different tests before coming to a conclusion. Some of the signs include headaches. If this is constant, then we should conduct a test.
She said constant peeing could be a sign of diabetes, saying this often leads to loss of weight and such a person should drink lots of water to replenish the system
The Chief Imam of the Asipa community, Abdullahi Omotayo thanked the Foundation for the programme. He prayed that Allah should reward the Atanda family and grant mercy on the woman in whose name the foundation is named.
Member of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation, Mr Samson Babatunde Olaniyan, expressed happiness with the turnout and the professionalism of the medical team.
“I am always happy to give back to the community and to give a helping hand to anyone that is in need,” he said. “Since this Foundation was founded some years ago, I have been proud to be a part of it. I have seen how fast the Foundation is growing and what we are doing today is part of giving back to the community.”
Olaniyan said it bad that a lot of people do not know their health status and this has becoming a leading cause of untimely deaths.
” So, this kind of awareness campaign is very crucial to community well being, ” he said.” I praise the efforts of the founder of the Foundation, Mr Layi Atanda for his commitment. It is clear that whatever little they can do here goes a long way.”
Mrs Adebukola Toluwalope, a matron and a leader of the nursing team said the turnout was higher than expected.” “This is wonderful and it shows that a lot people needs health care support,” she said. “This programme, being held under the auspices of the Sakirat Atanda Hope Foundation, is a reach out to the less privileged to know their health status. We test people for their sugar, their weight and their BP. We also provide drugs to all those who came.”
Chairnan of the Foundation, Mr Olayiwola Atanda expressed gratitude to all those who made the outreach a success.
” The medical outreach is one of our cardinal objectives, ” he said. “We are so concerned about the health status of our neighbors and communities. This is borne out of our experience with our late wife and mother, after whom we established this Foundation. We are doing these in the memory of the late Shakirat Atanda.
” When people are aware of their ailment on time, they can take effort to treat it before it becomes complicated. This free checkup is one way to do this and we hope to make it a regular thing.”
Atanda notes that the Foundation relies on the support it gets from philanthropists as well as contribution by family members.
” It is what people give to us that we add to what the family contributes to organise programmes such as this, ” he said. “We make sure that whatever kobo we get is used to help the next person in the area of health and economic empowerment.”
Faces at the event:
