Lagos New Emerald Lions Club organises free Medical Outreach In Osun Community

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

A non governmental organization, Lagos New Emerald Lions Club, Lions Club International, District 404B2 Nigeria on Saturday, 21st September, 2024 organized a medical outreach programme in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State as part of the efforts to improve the health condition of the residents.

During the event that took place at the Akire Palace’s hall, Oja Ale area, Ikire, medical officers distributed free drugs, free eye glasses to members of the community, checked their blood pressure and blood sugar levels. They also screened them for HIV, Hepatitis among others screening.

CityMirrorNews reports that the medical outreach was the 5th edition of their Annual Health Mission which is one of its core projects in Lagos New Emerald Lions Club.

Speaking, Lion Builder Olanrewaju Ahmed Abidoye , the Lagos New Emerald Lions Club President said that Lions Clubs is an organization that gives back to society by relieving hunger, screening for diabetes,. vision and another focus area, adding that the objective was to positively impact members of their immediate community.

He said: “In our club, we have a programme called Health Mission every year, and what we do is to give free eyeglasses, eye drops, free medical tests and medications for people in any community. So we decided this year that we are going to have four health missions; the first one is coming up at Ikire which is happening today. Today we’ll be having free eyeglasses and eye tests for our people here in Ikire. We’ll be checking their BP, blood tests and we’ll be giving them drugs for free at Ikire today.”

“We are envisaging more than 200 people. This time around we are having 4 and we decided that we’ll be doing it within 3 months interval so our first one will be coming up here in Ikire. We decided to start our Health Mission since our Service Chairperson for this Lion service is from Ikire and the President is also from Osun, Ede to be precise. The next one would be going to Ijebumore in Ogun State.”

“Lions Club International is an NGO, a selfless organization. We help the less privileged get the needful that they cannot afford on their own. We understand that the economy of the country is not friendly to anyone now, and we could see that people are compromising their health on the fact that they could not afford some basic amenities. This is the main reason we decided that we are going to do 4 health missions. And we also know that people are majorly dealing with eye problems too.”

“Our message to the beneficiaries is that we believe nobody can pay us for what we are doing here today except God. We are doing our own to help our people, the less privileged and the community. We want to urge them to adhere to all the prescriptions given to them today and use their drugs accordingly.”

The facilitator of the medical outreach, who doubles as the Service Chairperson for Lagos New Emerald Lions Club, Lion Nifemi Oluwaseyi Babajide said they decided to bring the outreach as a way of giving back to the society.

Babajide who hails from Oyepo’s Compound Ikire expressed happiness for the large turn out of the people of her community, saying she could discern from the way they embraced the opportunity which shows they really value what the Lion Club did for them.

She said: “Today we are having our 5th edition of our annual health mission which is one of our core projects in Lagos New Emerald Lions Club. Every year we look for a community to bring a free medical health checkup and free distribution of drugs to, for the betterment of the community.”

“We chose Ikire because our First Edition was held at Ijebu, the Second one at Ibadan, the Third one at Ede, so we feel we have expanded our tentacles across the South-West and Ikire is from Osun State. And as the Service Chairperson, I am also from Ikire so I used that opportunity to convince the members to bring this to my people.”

“To be sincere with you, I am very happy with the turnout because we have more than a 100 people here today although our target is 200. My advice to them is that they should take their health very important because Health is Wealth. These people are in the rural area so they are not really likely to have access to top hospitals and too, medical centers, but this program that we brought to them is now an opportunity for them to do checkups to know the state of their health. Free eyeglasses would also be given to those that have issues with their eyes.”

“The Lions Service Club is a service to the humanity club and it does not limit to this project alone. Lagos New Emerald Lions Club is a branch of District 404B2 Nigeria of the Lions Club, so we might extend this free health services if it need be. If we realize that there are some people that need more medical attention, they’ll be referred to our other higher projects that we have prepared. We have the LCIF which is a fund prepared for people like them that are in need. So if it is surgery, there is a way we would request for it and it would be catered for.”

“Health is the business of everybody. People are out there that need medical attention so if we have more hands together, we can make this world a better place. My advice to people out there is that if they have little and can share, donate today to support your neighbour. It starts from your immediate environment. So from the little you have, you can share with other people.”

Speaking, the Akire of Ikire, Oba
Olatunde Falabi, appreciated Lagos New Emerald Lions Club for bringing the medical outreach to his Community.

Oba Falabi, who spoke through one of his chiefs, Chief Oyeniyi Olayioye, the Ejemu of Ikireland, appreciated, Lion Nifemi Oluwaseyi Babajide, for bringing such laudable programme to her home town.

The monarch charged other sons and daughters of Ikire, both home and in the Diaspora to emulate the patriotic spirit of Nifemi , who he described as true patriot of Ikire just as he urged Nigerians to emulate Lions clubs by donating to the poor and needy in society.

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to our Correspondent appreciated the Non Governmental International Organization and their daughter who hosted the outreach, praying God to continue to bless them.