Hundreds of residents of Akure, the Ondo State capital, have benefited from a free medical outreach organised by Onibode Hospital, a non-governmental health institution in the city.
The outreach, which took place over the weekend at the hospital’s premises, featured free consultations, medical checkups, and treatment for various ailments.
Speaking at the event, the hospital’s proprietor and founder of Success Gate C&S Christ Church International, Primate (Dr.) Ade Ademisokun-Turton Onibode, said the outreach was part of his organisation’s commitment to improving community health and reducing medical tourism.
“We have the intention to serve humanity and assist the government in reducing medical tourism. About 10 million dollars were wasted by Nigeria on medical tourism by government officials alone in 2022,” he said.
According to him, the rising cost of medical tourism shows that the government is overwhelmed and that private initiatives must step in to bridge healthcare gaps.
He noted that Onibode Hospital has been offering free medical services annually for over a dozen years, stressing that the outreach was funded solely by the hospital.
“Health is wealth. No matter how rich you are, if you are not healthy, it means nothing,” Onibode stated. “Many people don’t know their health status — some live with diabetes or hypertension unknowingly and die suddenly. We organise this outreach so people can know their health condition early.”
Also speaking, Dr. Ogundeji Festus Olusoji, one of the doctors on the medical team, advised residents to always take advantage of the free outreach and to prioritise regular health checkups.
“We check blood pressure, temperature, pulse, fasting blood sugar, and malaria. Many people discover health issues like diabetes here for the first time,” he said. “Early detection saves lives. Ignoring your health is like carrying a ticking time bomb.”
Dr. Ogundeji lamented that many Nigerians focus more on making money than on maintaining good health, urging them to use part of their wealth to safeguard their wellbeing.
“Even when you have money, if you’re not healthy, what’s the use? Everyone should go for regular blood pressure and sugar tests — especially with our lifestyle and diet,” he added.
The outreach drew large attendance from residents who commended the hospital for its consistency in offering free medical services and for helping to reduce the burden of healthcare costs in the state.
