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The Ilorin Emirate Medical Doctors Group (IEMDG) have offered free treatment and drugs to over 1000 patients within a year.
Dr Abdulkadir Ahmed, the Vice President of the Group told newsmen in Ilorin on Saturday, during a news conference organized on the sidelines of the association’s Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference.
Ahmed explained that the group had earlier treated about 500 patients for free as part of their community outreach in Balogun Gambari community in Ilorin.
He noted that the group identified and managed both young and old with diverse ailments who lack access to healthcare services.
According to him, the group also visited schools in the state capital for career counselling for students on their choice of course of study.
He noted that the association which was established in 2016 is headed by Prof Ayisha Gobir, a Consultant Paediatrician at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), with a strength of 300 members across the globe.
The Vice President of the group observed that economic recession which is global has negative impact on the capacity of people to spend on health, adding however that the group is actively involved in the humanitarian services to the people of the Emirate.
He noted that the doctors felt the need to contribute their quota and help the indigent in society who could not have access to healthcare in the city.
Ahmed who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Kwara Chapter appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to utilise the National Health Insurance Schemes (NHIS) to enrol people to access healthcare at an affordable rate.
He explained further that a sum of N6000 can access health through the scheme for low-income earners.
Speaking also, Dr Adana Suleiman, Deputy Secretary of the group, added that the mandate of the association is to give back to society.
He emphasised the need for health education for people to be enlightened, adding that it is one of the activities of the group to educate society on health using the media.
Suleiman observed that the health literacy among people is low, adding that the association will continue to reach out to make a difference in the health of the people.
On his part, Dr Ahmed Abdullahi, of the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta and a member of the group urged well-meaning Nigerians to give back to society through funding for affordable health services, especially NHIS.
He observed that access to healthcare delivery remains a bane to the nation while appealing to all Nigerians to enrol on the Scheme.
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