VINTAGE Isale-Eko Medical Mission Saves Lives
Lending a hand to those in dire need of attention indeed changes lives. Advancing this worthy cause is Grace Arena Parish, Reedemed Church, Lagos Island through its corporate social responsibility arm. With a army of medical experts, local volunteers and
Grace Arena Parish, Lagos Island, Area 1, Zone 1, Lagos Province 16 continues its tradition of giving back to the community via a medical mission held recently in Campos Mini Stadium, Lagos Island which also coincided with the activities of Pa Otedola one-year remembrance three-day programme.
An essential cornerstone of the church’s corporate social giving, the medical mission with the support of medical experts from United States of America and local volunteers sought to enhance and lend immediate health assistance to needy patients. Volunteer doctors and medical students, from dentists to family and internal medicine doctors provided their time and professional services for free.
Apart from treatments and free medical checkup, the beneficiaries, a total of more than1,000 indigent patients, also received complete sets of prescribed medicines and multivitamins in a well-organized manner devoid of rush.
As early as 8am on Monday 1st June, 2015, a large number of seats at the stadium were filled with the young, middle age and elderly. The school children were not left out as they were beneficiaries of free dental screening and set of toothpaste and toothbrush.
According to Mr. Phillip Akinola, pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and Acting COO of Zenon Oil, giving back with a medical mission is very necessary. “We are trying to align with the vision of the church in terms of corporate responsibility. We are located within this locality and our corporate responsibility should be geared towards the residents and to reach out to people within our catchment area. We come to reach out to them spiritually and physically too. The medical experts are from the USA and the drugs and check-up are given free. It is the first time it is being done by us and it is open to everybody. Our goal is actually 1000 people and it seems we have surpassed it. This came about as a result of people coming in to ask the church to assist them in hospital bills or procuring medication to heal ailments plaguing them and that created the need to do this and we decided to reach out to them on this kind of level.”
Dr. Jagun, one of the medical experts from USA finds fulfillment in being involved in initiatives such as this. She however bemoaned the need to make healthcare, especially primary closer to the people. She had this to say, ‘It is a very fulfilling and satisfying thing. This is not my first time here as I have been doing this since 2007,; that is medical missions. I have worked with Lagos State severally almost on a regular basis. It can be tiring, stressful but overwhelmingly-fulfilling. I have also led missions to Uganda. I have also been to Ondo State. To be quite honest with you, since we have been coming, we have seen progress in the way medical issues are being handled in Lagos state. What is missing is still the need to make healthcare accessible to all; our people’s access to it is still very poor. People are suffering and dying needlessly of preventable diseases.’
Hajiya Risikat, a trader of perishable goods is of the opinion that medical missions such as this are life savers. ‘I don’t miss them; I closed my shop in Balogun to be here today. It was when attending one of such I found out I have a high blood pressure and I’ve been able to keep it in check since then. I am a Muslim but I can only thank them for what they are giving to us free today because it will surely save lives.’
Opportunities for giving back to the communities where the church is and helping people in need can only further endear the people to them.