Hundreds of traders across different markets within the Ibadan North Local Government area of Oyo State have in the last three weeks benefitted from the free health care programme organized by the Olalekan Sanni Open Arm Foundation (OSOAF), a non-governmental organization based in the capital city of Oyo State to support and care for the health concerns of the traders in some selected markets within the Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The selected markets that benefitted from the free health programme that lasted for three weeks included the Bodija market, Iso Pako, Sango, Gbaremu and Mokola markets respectively.
At each of the markets, 100 traders, young and old men and women were tested freely for various ailments which included high blood pressure, blood fasten sugar level, temperature and pulse rate, malaria related ailments during the three-week exercise.
They were given drugs relating to the ailments they were tested for with instructions on how to take care of themselves.
The beneficiaries who trooped out in their hundreds to participate in the free programme, expressed their appreciation to the founder of the said organization, Olalekan Sanni of Open Arm foundation for the gesture which, according to them, has afforded them an opportunity to know their health status.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Toyin Alayande who lauded the foundation for initiating the idea of organizing the programme, stressed that before now, it was difficult for many of them who are mainly illiterates to go for medical checkups for fear of not being able to afford the money involved.
Speaking on the motive behind the gesture, the initiator and President of the foundation, Hon. Olalekan Sanni said that he organized the medical outreach programme with the aim of providing quality health care to people in various markets in the Ibadan metropolis because of his passion to lend a helping hand to the society.
Olalekan Sanni, an Ibadan indigene who is based in the United States of America further hinted that the foundation was initiated to cater for the welfare of other people, especially the underprivileged in the society. He stressed that the foundation was not limited to medical welfare alone.
According to him, “we have made up our minds to make meaningful impacts in the lives of our people, that is why their welfare is our concern and major priority, and from time to time, we reach out to them, by rendering various social services and assistance to support them.” He added.
Also speaking in the same vein, the wife of the founder, Mrs Abidemi Sanni expressed her happiness at the huge turn-out of beneficiaries at each of the markets that participated in the programme stressing that many people are living with various ailments which they are unable to treat as a result of lack of money to go for medical check-up.
Mrs Sanni who was with the other members of the foundation throughout the programme, disclosed that apart from the health care outreach, the foundation had embarked upon other programmes including distribution of school materials for indigent pupils in some pubic which was done at the beginning of the 2021/2022 academic session, financial assistance for traders, widows among other poverty alleviating programmes.
Some of the traders that also spoke and commended the founder included the Iyaloja of Mokola market, Mrs Feyisara Azeez, Mrs lolade Kilade, Fayemi Gbenga, Pa Rabi Ibrahim, Babaloja Gbaremu market, Mrs Foluke Olawuyi, Olasunkanmi Elizabeth among others.
Packaged by Oyedapo Oyewole
