200 benefit from Kwara’s ‘Ageing Gracefully’ health programme

No fewer than 200 people received treatment for different ailments under a free healthcare programme for the aged in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara.

NAN reports that the programme, which ended on Sunday, was jointly organised by a philanthropist, Dr Adesola Oyinloye-Ndu, the council and Landmark University Medical Centre in Omu-Aran.

The programme tagged, ‘Ageing Gracefully’ attracted people from Omu-Aran and the neighbouring communities like Oro, Ajase-Ipo, Arandun and Oko.

The beneficiaries were given drugs for ailments such as malaria, hypertension and diabetes.

Oyinloye-Ndu who is also a medical practitioner, said at the closing ceremony in Omu-Aran that her desire was to give back to the society by improving life expectancy in the area.

“It has been my long desire to impact positively on the living standard of the people, especially as regards their medical status.

“So when the issue of empowering the elderly medically came up with the council chairman, Mr Luqman Owolewa, and he bought into the idea, I decided to give my support.

“The whole essence is to educate the older citizens on what kind of activities they should be involved in and the kind of food they should eat so as not to create problems for their system as they grow older,” Oyinloye-Ndu said.

Owolewa, on his part, said the desire to complement the state government’s policy in making healthcare closer to the people informed the council’s partnership.

“The state government under Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed had in the last few years embarked on some medical programmes aimed at improving the living standard of the people.

“It is in line with this that we decided to use the opportunity of the programme – Ageing Gracefully – to educate our elders on the need to imbibe good habits in order to avoid health hazards.

“The council has also made available some funds to take care of the drugs and other aspects of the programme in order to achieve the desired aims and objectives,” Owolewa said.

Mrs Mary Afolayan, the council’s Head of Health Department, expressed happiness at the large turn-out of participants and urged other philanthropists to support such initiatives.

A beneficiary, Mrs Abigail Omolara, thanked the organisers for their foresight, saying the programme had improved awareness as regards age-related diseases.