To mark the 25th Anniversary of the Igbinedion University Okada (IUO), the Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital (IUTH) on Friday, April 26, embarked on a one-day free medical outreach to residents within Okada and neighbouring communities.
The Igbinedion Research Centre which was later renamed Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital (IUTH) in 1999 with the emergence of the Igbinedion University Okada, has been in existence before merging with the University that will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary on May 10, 2024.
In commemoration of the 25-year celebration, Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital conducted a free healthcare outreach programme to residents of Okada community and environs where general healthcare awareness was discussed, as well as the conducting of free medical tests such as eye tests / and giving of medicated glasses, PVC test, malaria tests, urinary test, and free medical operations for minor complaints.
Before now, the University has shown a great level of community service to the people by conducting free eye tests and clinical support services annually to show appreciation to residents for their cooperation, commitment, and support to IUTH and IUO.
In his opening speech, Prof. Godwin Nosakhare Bazuaye, Chief Medical Director (CMD), Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital (IUTH), and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Igbinedion University Okada (IUO), noted that while celebrating the 25th Anniversary, a thoughtful insight to give back to the communities that have been a great source of support was of utmost importance.
“Igbinedion University Okada will be 25 years on the 10th of May, 2024, and it’s been a long time. For someone who has attained the age of 25 is worth celebrating.
“In an attempt to start this programme, we’ve decided that first is to start the programme with a free healthcare programme, especially for those who are indigenes around the Okada environ.
“It is only proper to note that without the cooperation of these groups of people, who live around and have made the environment to be very peaceful for over 25 years, we would not be able to have had a peaceful ride for these 25 years having achieved a lot. We’ve graduated a lot of medical doctors, nurses, lab scientists, and other professionals have all come out from this place over 25 years.
“The people around the Hospital and the University have made it possible for us to attain this height, and in an attempt to give back, the Esama of Benin, in his usual character, along with the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, we’ve agreed that we needed to start a free health programme,” Prof. Bazuaye said.
The CMD, IUTH, further disclosed that IUTH regularly conducts free health programmes for people around Okada. However, he mentioned that the uniqueness of this one-day medical outreach is to show gratitude to the people around Okada for being there for IUTH and IUO for the past 25 years.
According to him, “The free health program is for a day, we started this morning, we are already seeing patients and we are going to provide free eyeglasses to those who need eyeglasses, we are going to do minor operations and see all patients, provide basic drugs, do some basic tests for patients free of charge.
“All the doctors are on ground to ensure that this free health clinic is successful.
“Once more to say thank you to the people of Okada and the community around for being there for us for the past 25 years.
“We bring greetings to you from the Esama of Benin, the Deputy Chancellor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Lawrence Ezomonye, and every member of the Board of Regent and Management of IUTH and IUO,” he added.
On her part, the Director, Nursing Services, Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital, Mrs. Bassey Rosemary stated that the turn-up has been quite impressive reiterating that the medical outreach is aimed at giving back to society.
“Our duty as nurses is to care. What we do, is we take a brief history from the patients, observe them, and do a sort of vital to send them to the consultants according to their complaints and needs.
“Everybody that comes will be attended to and will be given treatments, free drugs, free eyeglasses and we will do some tests. The very serious ones will be admitted for further management,” she explained.
A registered pharmacist 1 at the pharmacy, IUTH, Omorogie Augustina, said drugs were made available to patients after diagnosis during the outreach.
“As a pharmacist in the hospital, I make sure that the drugs that the doctor prescribes are available for the patients, and I also counsel the patients on how to take the drugs for a better therapeutic effect.
“The medical outreach today is a good thing. It enables, especially the indigenes of Okada and other environments to partake in the free medical outreach. Most times, some of them get diagnosed with their conditions. And some of them might not know that they are suffering from that kind of particular condition.
“With this free medical outreach, the patients will be enlightened on their medical conditions and the drugs they should be taking,” Augustina explained.
Beneficiaries of the outreach also expressed their wholehearted gratitude to the University and its Management for providing quality healthcare services to residents of Okada and other communities.
One of the beneficiaries, Augustina Ogudu who lived in Okada, said he was given medications and was grateful to the organisers of the outreach.
“The nurses and the doctors have checked me and I’m good. I thank Chief Igbinedion for giving us free medical checkups. My BP was high because of stress, I was given free drugs,” he said.
Doris Fatawu, another beneficiary from Utesi community said she was tested and given medications for ulcer and malaria treatment after diagnosis.
Blessing Sunday, a resident from Okada who benefited from the medical outreach shared her experience with The Nigerian Observer: “I came for the free checkup at Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital at Okada. I went to see the doctor for a dental problem and I was given drugs.
“I’m using this medium to say a big thanks to our daddy, Dr. Gabriel Igbinedion, and the staff and workers of Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital. God bless you all for the good works.”
