‘We don’t need luxury when our brothers are suffering’-Ooni

By Abdulrofiu Agboola

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has advised well meaning Nigerians not to encourage amassing wealth and other luxury of life at the expense of millions of people who could not afford basic needs.

Oba Adeyeye said the fundamental essentials of living, which entails supporting one another should be included in everybody’s routine.‎

The traditional ruler stated this at the Ile-Ife free health caravan, for hepatitis test and vaccination organized by SHEAM Health Care Foundation at the palace of the Ooni on Wednesday.

He said, “Why should we busy amassing wealth, beautiful houses, and acquiring exotic cars when there are millions out there who do not know they are having viral hepatitis in their system?

The Ooni who was conferred with the title of the Royal Ambassador for hepatitis Avocation in Nigeria, said he would let the world know the task he had been given by doing his best.

Earlier, the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole said hepatitis was a major global disease that has affected more than 500 million patients chronically, emphasizing that many people living with the disease did not know they were infected.‎

Adewole who was represented by the Consultant of Viral Hepatitis of Yakubu Gowon Center, Mr David Nwendu, further explained that over 20million Nigerians were living with either Hepatitis B or C or both.

According to him, “at least 10 of us are living with the virus. Going by this scientific proof, the national prevalence rate and the estimated population of Osun state in 2016, which stands at about 4.6 million, approximately, 600,000 persons are currently living with the viruses.

“More worrisome is the remaining 4million that are at the risk of contracting the viruses. This is known to more easily transmittable than the dreaded HIV virus.”

The chief Medical Director of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile- Ife, lauded the intention or the Ooni of Ife to build a medical hub the yard of the hospital.

He said the Ooni who has always been supportive to them financially and materially was one of the PSOE who sponsored the recent open heart surgery that was done in the hospital