Residents of Ajeromi Ifelodun Local government area of Lagos beam with smiles as a non-profit, Ajegunle Visionaries Foundation (AVF) recently embarked on a local healthcare and wellbeing awareness programme tagged: ‘my health, my future’.
According to the foundation, the programme was aimed at advancing the course of free healthcare service in the Ajegunle community, following a spike in the number of chronic health conditions leading to avoidable deaths in the Lagos community.
The President of AVF, Mr Adebowale Ogungbure said the charity was founded by a group of like-minds who grew up in the Ajegunle suburbs, interested in giving back to the community that shaped their childhood experience. While the majority of the foundation’s trustees reside outside Nigeria, some reside in the country.
Speaking to further the organisation’s vision and mission statement of providing free healthcare awareness programmes, the President of AVF, Ogungbure, said “the prevalence of failing health on the residents cannot be over-emphasised and it can largely be linked to a lack of basic information on living a healthy life and individual awareness in making appropriate lifestyle choices. The consequences are unimaginable!”
The President who spoke virtually from United Kingdom applauded participants at the event, stating that “the trustees of the Charity are like-minds with a shared vision, values and common life goals that agreed to organise the programme by supporting with their resources, valuable time and self-commitments to make the programme a success.”
Also, he appreciated the financial support by individual sponsors of the event and the selflessness of the medical team and AVF support team that were on the ground at the event.
The President also appreciated the Charity’s Trustees and independent sponsors that provided financial aid and support in March 2020 during the peak of the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Highlights of the event include free medical check-up conducted for over 200 beneficiaries, administration of drugs in line with ailments detected and distribution of food items to beneficiaries.
In appreciation, a beneficiary, Mr Jacob Thamgbe expressed joy for benefiting from the healthcare programme.
The group said during the months-long lockdown it distributed food items and financial support to some residents of the Ajegunle Community. “The food distribution and financial support programme were very remarkable, successful, and laudable; the project was groundbreaking and it was well appreciated by the residents.
“The healthcare and wellbeing awareness programme was delivered by seasoned medical professionals that understand the lifestyle of Ajegunle residents. The programme was designed to check a person’s blood pressure and other vital signs for the early identification, prevention and management of illness and/or chronic medical conditions such as hypertension, hypotension, Cardio Vascular Disease, Stroke warning signs and lots more. The programme was held at the Local Authority (L.A.) Primary School, Ogbewankwo, Ajegunle.
“The programme was anchored by Dr Sunday Oshodi, Chief Medical Director of St. Milla Hospital in conjunction with his Daughter, Dr Ameh. While addressing the participants, Dr Ameh spoke eloquently and reminded everyone about maintaining good health and making proper lifestyle choices.
“Also, she shared some vital health tips to guide against acute or chronic conditions such as Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, hypertension, Cardio Vascular Disease, Stroke, Ulcer, Covid-19 prevention strategies, and other major health challenges associated with persons of 40-years and above.
“In the same vein, Dr Oshodi thanked the AVF members for their efforts in giving back to their community and appealed to them to continue to do more charitable intervention programmes at intervals to support the residents and aid early identification of health conditions to save a life. He advised the attendees to always cultivate the habit of undertaking exercise and walking. Also, he encouraged the attendees to eat more vegetables and fresh foods to avoid accumulating sugar in the body which can negatively affect their health.
“The special guest of the event Hon. Paul OVIE (former Vice Chairman of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State) after undergoing the basic medical check-up and provided with the needed drugs appreciated the Charity and its members for the laudable initiative of organising the healthcare and wellbeing programme.
“Equally, he enjoined the beneficiaries of the programme to listen and graciously heed to the medical advice from the lectures delivered by Dr Oshodi and Dr Ameh.
“Mr Austine Olisah, a Trustee of the Charity, an illustrious Son of the Ajegunle community and a Co-coordinator at the event expressed his joy over the turnout and successful delivery of the programme. He applauded the efforts of his fellow Trustees and emphasised that the Charity is committed to having similar programmes in the near future which will be held at another central location. Equally, he took the opportunity to inform the participants that the Charity is also committed at providing communal infrastructural and developmental projects, and educational programmes for children, young adults and the elderly, as well as individual empowerment programmes.
“Likewise, another Trustee of the Charity, Mr Augustine Uwandu, also a Co-coordinator of the event gladly expressed his delight over the successful delivery of the programme. He stated that the event was remarkable, and he appreciated the other Trustees of the Charity for the sacrifice, as well as the financial support provided by independent financial donors to the Charity. He also reiterated that similar events will be held across the entire Ajegunle Community to ensure every age group benefit from the Charity’s priceless vision to support good health and wellbeing across the community,” the foundation said in a statement.
