Osun Indigenes In U.S. Offer Free Healthcare To People In Iragbiji, Others

Medical experts who are indigenes of Osun State based in United States of America have offered to foot the surgery expenses of a 40-year-old Rachael Akinola with degenerating hip pains in the U.S.
This is coming even as no fewer than 3,000 people benefited from the free medical treatment carried out by the team in the state.
The medical team led by Dr. Oluremi Ilupeju were in the state on a five-day free medical treatment for the people of five selected towns in the state, including Erin-Osun in Irepodun Local Government, Inisa in Odo-Otin Local Government, Iragbiji in Boripe Local Government, Ile-Ogbo in Ayedire Local Government and Osun in Atakunmosa-West Local Government Council of the state.
Rachael Akinola (an orphan) had been battling with hip pains for the past 20 years since she lost her husband to a fatal motor accident. She was admitted at the Igbobi Orthopaedic Hospital in Lagos but she was abandoned by her relations in the hospital and later discharged when she could not bear the cost of the medication.
When X-ray was conducted on her at Comprehensive Health Centre, Iragbiji, headquarters of Boripe Local Government Council of the state, the medical team agreed to carry Mrs. Akinola along with them to the U.S. for proper surgery.
Ilupeju disclosed that Akinola would require a $200,000 for the surgery, adding that the association will take up the bill.
The medical team had earlier visited some handicapped and homeless places in the state where they donated some medical items worth several millions of naira and conducted free medical checks on the children.
They also gave out scholarships to 31 students in the state in 2013 in addition to a promise to support the state government in the area of good health delivery as part of the contribution to the development of the state.
Chairman of ETCETERA Interactions Limited, Mr. Samuel Olaitan, who is also the Chairman, Local Organising Committee of the medical mission, commended the team for a job well done, noting that the medical team had been supportive of the state government.
According to him, “this free health care is the largest so far, as it cuts across five local government areas of the state”.
Also speaking, the President of Osun State indigenes in the U.S., Pastor Oyetunde Oyegoke, who observed that the people of the state have been finding it difficult to take their sick relatives to the hospital, advised that the government at all levels should provide ambulance for emergency and station them in all the local government areas.
Pastor Oyegoke who lauded Governor Rauf Aregbesola and former Commissioner for Health, Mrs. Temitope Ilori for accommodating them.
He assured that the team would not relent in striving for good living of the people of their state.
He expressed sadness over the health condition of the people of the state, as he observed that most of them are battling with eye problem.
He charged the government to intensify effort at finding last solution to, saying “eyes are very important parts in the body and it must be given adequate care”.
Outlining the programme of the association, Pastor Oyegoke, said “we have a goal for each year. We started with education last year with 31 scholarships for brilliant students in the state. This year, we have selected five places which are: Erin-Osun, Inisa, Iragbiji, Ile-Ogbo and Atakumosa respectively.
“We have programme for handicapped which is the primary and most important aspect of our programme because they did not have anybody.
“We appreciate the government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, most especially the former Commissioner of Health, Mrs Temitope Ilori, for accommodating us. We understand their plight most especially the reduction in the allocation from the Federal Government which they said had affected them.
“We are calling on well meaning and politicians in the state to see the good living of people they govern as important,” he added.
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