23rd May, 2011
More than 1,000 persons, including journalists, were given free medical treatment by the Mushin Local Government Council in Lagos, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported.
NAN reported that the council in collaboration with Boska Pharmacuetical Company Ltd., treated all categories of people with various ailments such as malaria, pains, hypertension and diabetes among others.
Mr Segun Akinyemi, Mushin Public Relations Officer (PRO), said the council’s desire to give quality health to all, motivated the collaboration with the private organisation.
Akinyemi noted that government alone could not meet the health needs of everyone with its limited resources.
He said that private individuals and organisations’ contributions would be appreciated.
Akinyemi said that another free health programme on cancer was underway by May ending and called on people in the area to make use of the opportunity.
A representative of Boska, Miss Kafayat Adeloja, said the programme was part of the company’s community development activities in Nigeria, aimed at promoting healthy living.
Adeloja said other services rendered by the company included checking of blood pressure, body weight, free examination by doctors and free drugs.
She noted that people the company could not handle their ailments were referred to hospitals.
Some of the beneficiaries commended the council and Boska for the programme and urged them to make it a regular affair.
“It is a good programme. We know how much drugs cost in Nigeria.
“These people checked us and gave us free drugs. Malaria is the commonest sickness many people complained of.
“The government should look into that,†said Mrs. Kofowurola Ogundipe.
Another beneficiary, Mr. Jude Okorie, said the programme showed that the government cared for the people.