Indian firm rescues scores from sudden death
..Gives free medical treatment to residents of Ogun communities
Some residents at the free medical outreach
A Nigeria-based Indian company, Monarch Steel Mill Ltd, has rescued over 100 persons from stroke and other life-threatening medical crisis in Ipetoro and Oruku communities, near Ogijo, in Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State, via a free medical outreach programme it organised for the residents.
The outreach programme carried out by a medical team from Lagos State was sponsored by the company to conduct free medical tests like blood pressure levels, malaria diagnosis, eye screening, hepatitis and blood sugar levels, among others.
They also dispensed free drugs to each patient appropriately and provided free reading glasses for over 400 others.
Dr Ahmed Ajibade who led the medical team to the communities disclosed that many of the residents who came for the programme might have died suddenly or become paralysed if they had not attended.
“From my observation, most of them were hypertensive and were not even aware of it. Hypertension is a silent killer, and you might not even know you have it. A lot of them were not aware at all that they were living with such life threatening health issue,” he said.
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Earlier, at the commencement of the outreach, a nurse, Mrs. Lydia Akinyemi, who gave a health talk, enlightened the people on the causes of blood pressure and ulcer, and how to prevent them.
She stated later that high blood pressure, diabetes and other life-threatening illnesses were very prevalent among the patients. She advised them to reduce stress. And for the ulcer patients, she counselled them to avoid intakes of peppery food, even as she urged everyone to avoid self medication and use their drugs religiously.
Head of Human Resources/ Administrative Manager of Monarch Steel Mill Ltd, Mr Sunday Aladeniyi, who spoke on behalf of the General Manager of the company, disclosed that the company signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, to have good relationships with the two host communities.
Mr Aladeniyi explained that the free medical outreach was one of the corporate social responsibilities being carried out in the communities. He added that they had provided concrete electric poles and a transformer for the electrification of the two communities in the previous years.
These were in addition to giving the communities many bags of rice as palliatives to share among the CDAs during the last Christmas/New Year season; among other CSR projects.
The spokesman for the two communities, Pastor Rufus Noel, expressed satisfaction about the turnout of people for the programme. He disclosed that about 280 children and youths came out for the outreach, while 340 adults also benefited.
He said the economic situation in the country was preventing people from taking care of their health. “So, many people were already at the venue by 6:30 am for a programme that was to start by 9am.”
he said financial constraints were preventing the patients from attending hospitals, adding that environmental pollution was subjecting the residents to various health challenges.
“He said the state government had failed to provide the needed social amenities in the area, while commending the management of Monarch Steel Mill Ltd for what theyve been doing lately to alleviate the challenges of the community dwellers.
Baale of Ipetoro, Baale Mojeed Olanipekun thanked the organisers of the programme, urging other companies to emulate them. He urged the people, especially the youths to always contact him first to inform him of any grievance or issues they are not pleased with instead of storming those companies in protest.
The general chairman of Ipetoro Community Development Associations, CDAs, Comrade David Okediya, said the community leaders had, in the past, engaged companies to the area to address some environmental pollution like air and water pollution, which were a menace to peoples health in the communities.
He commended the management of Monarch Steel Mill Ltd. for their efforts in addressing those health hazards and coming out with projects to alleviate peoples sufferings.
Another speaker, Imam Abdul Rahman Ahmed, said the programme was timely, especially coming in the Ramadan season.
“The Quran encourages us to take care of our health. And whoever helps the poor and less privileged by saving their lives through provision of this kind of medical succour or taking care of their health in whatever way, will surely be rewarded by almighty Allah,” he noted.
One Mrs Oluwayemisi Odeyemi who came for eye screening and treatment, along with her children, expressed gratitude to the company. She explained that her family became indigent after her husband lost his job in Lagos and her own catering business was not big enough to take care of their finances. She stated that she couldnt go for eye treatment because of her finances. She was therefore grateful to the organisers for the free drugs she got at the event.
Mr Aladeniyi, who said the company also graded roads in the communities, described multiple taxation from federal, state and local governments as a major problem for the company. He said the facilities being provided by the company were the responsibilities of government and urged government to take its responsibilities more seriously.
Aladeniyi added that the company was also building a health centre for the community. He commended Pastor Rufus for doing a great job in building cordial relationship between the company and residents of the communities.