Fourteen indigent patients at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) have on Wednesday received free surgical interventions and items including cash from the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
The intervention and humanitarian gesture are part of the activities for the NARD 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM) tagged: “The Emirate Experience.”
Speaking on the sidelines of the surgical intervention, the National President of NARD, Dr Emeka Orji explained that the association is known for yearly free medical outreach and intervention for the indigent across every state of the country.
He shedded further light on the purpose of the outreach, which is to reach out to indigent who are in need of medical intervention or have health challenges.
He described the gesture as part of the social responsibilities of the association in giving back to the society.
Orji said that NARD should not be known for strike actions alone, adding that they have always been at the forefront of identifying with the indigent by reaching out to them through free medical outreaches and intervention.
He said some admitted patients in UITH also received cash donations to enable them cater for their needs.
Contributing, Dr Remi Solagbade, of the Department of Surgery, UITH and coordinator of the outreach said that 14 of the beneficiaries had various surgical conditions.
He further explained that some of the conditions include hernia, glaucoma and other surgical needs, adding that some in-patients at the Emergency and Accident Unit were also given cash to assist them in their recovery stages.
Reacting, the Acting Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) of UITH, Prof Bilyaminu Asayomi, commended the association for the laudable and humanitarian gesture.
He noted that what the doctors were doing was fantastic in reaching out to indigent members of the society and treating them for free.
Responding, Joshua Durojaiye, a beneficiary of the outreach lauded the doctors for the life saving intervention.
He said: “These doctors attended to us very well, there was no hassle. And I appeal to them to continue and widen the scope of this kind of humanitarian programmes they are doing.”
Highlights of the event included visitation and donation of foodstuffs and medical consumables to School for the Special Needs in Ilorin.
