Group organises free medical care for over 1500 Ogun residents
A group of young men who grew up and schooled in Ijebu land in the 70s and 80s under the aegis of Ijebu Boys Association has organised a free medical outreach for over 1500 residents of Ijebu land, Ogun State.
Flagging off the three days free medical outreach on Thursday at Millennium Hall, Ijebu Ode local government, Itoro, Ijebu Ode, the Gbegande of Ososa, Oba Adetoye Alatishe lauded the young men behind this humanitarian gesture.
Oba Alatishe praised the spirit of selflessness and love for others as exemplified by the group maintaining that timely support for the downtrodden like this would no doubt make life more comfortable for all.
The traditional ruler and former council boss said “as a medical doctor myself, I know the worth of contributions of these great men. We are all aware of importance of sound health, health they say is wealth and that is why selfless efforts of this group is greatly appreciated. It’s our wish that others will take a cue from this group and be more concerned with lending helping hands to other people in the society”.
Speaking with journalists, the President of the group, Mr Olagbuyi Oduniyi disclosed that the free medical outreach which is the third to be organised by the group is purely borne out of the conviction to give back to the society while also complementing government’s efforts in the provision of qualitative healthcare.
Mr Olagbuyi Oduniyi explained that during the three days medical outreach, the group targets at least 1500 beneficiaries saying that over 15 medical doctors are on ground to attend to the people at the event.
He said the free medical programme would afford the people opportunity to receive dental and optical care as well as care for tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, hypertension, common illness like Malaria, Typhoid among others.
Oduniyi explained that “for those whose medical care might require surgical procedure, one or two hospitals who heard about our philanthropic acts and said they would like to partner with us have told us to refer such people to them saying that such surgeries would be done at an highly discounted cost”.
He said aside free eye glasses that would be given to the people during the programme, the group has also provided mobility aids and wheel chairs that would be given out to those identified to need it.
Going down memory lane, Mr Olagbuyi Oduniyi explained that “the group actually consists of some young men, though we call ourselves boys who grew up, schooled in Ijebu land in the 70s and 80s but are now scattered all over the world, the group came into being as a result of some unfortunate incidents that happened in 2017.
“About three of our childhood friends died and we never knew their whereabout until we heard of their deaths, one of us later created a WhatsApp group and that was how we started linking ourselves and then the birth of Ijebu Boys Association.
“The group is essentially formed to see how we can also give back to the society. We had our first edition of free medical care in 2018, the second edition was in 2019, in 2020, during Covid-19 pandemic, we distributed palliatives which were food stuff and this year we are here again to support qualitative healthcare for our people”.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Odeniyi Sunday and Mrs Kudirat Onasanya commended the group for making available their hard earned resources to support other members of the society insisting that other privileged Nigerians must borrow a leaf from the selfless disposition of this group of ‘young boys’.
