The Kogi State Government has conducted a free medical outreach for over 1,000 residents of Agasa community in Okene Local Government Area of the state.
The outreach, held at the Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in Agasa, was coordinated by the Kogi State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adeiza.
Adeiza said the initiative is an ongoing efforts to complement government healthcare initiatives and improve access to medical services at the grassroots.
He also noted that the exercise was aimed at giving back to the people and appreciate their continued support to the administration at both the state and national level.
Adeiza further explained that the outreach reflects the administration’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery and ensuring that rural communities have access to quality medical services.
According to him, the exercise featured a large team of healthcare professionals drawn from various medical institutions across the state, including 23 doctors from different specialties, 30 nurses and midwives, eight community health workers, five pharmacists, seven pharmacy technicians, three laboratory scientists, one optometrist, four hospital attendants, 20 support staff, and 12 drivers.
Earlier, Chief Medical Director of the Confluence University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital, Okene, Dr. Shuaibu Stephen, described the programme as a landmark healthcare intervention in the state.
He noted that the programme demonstrated the high priority the State Government places on the health sector and commended the administration for expanding access to quality healthcare for rural dwellers.
Meanwhile, Health Sector Stakeholders at the event also described the programme as a commendable effort aimed at improving healthcare delivery at the grassroots level.
They encouraged residents to make better use of Primary Healthcare Centres and avoid self medication, stressing the importance of early diagnosis and adherence to prescribed treatment.
Residents reportedly began arriving at the Agasa PHC as early as 7:00 a.m. to benefit from the free healthcare services. Medications, eyeglasses, medical supplies, and other consumables were distributed free of charge to beneficiaries.
Patients requiring surgical procedures were referred to the Confluence University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital, Okene, for free surgeries, while several complicated medical cases were referred for advanced care.
The programme also featured health talks, sensitisation session on healthy living, disease prevention, with medical experts urging resident to seek proper diagnosis and treatment from approved health facilities.
Among the services rendered during the exercise were outpatient consultations, laboratory tests, diagnostic X-ray services for tuberculosis screening, distribution of prescribed medications, mass distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, and health awareness campaigns.
More than 50 surgical cases were identified and referred for free surgical treatment during the exercise.
Beneficiaries of the outreach expressed appreciation to the Kogi State Government and the Ministry of Health, describing the initiative as timely, impactful, and highly beneficial to rural communities.
