By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
A Bauchi-based Non-Governmental Organization, Radiant Care Foundation, RCF, on Saturday organized a free medical outreach for 100 beneficiaries, mostly people with special needs in the Bauchi metropolis.
The outreach was held for residents of Anguwan Makafi in Bauchi Local Government Area as part of the Foundation’s community service under Project THRIVE
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of the Foundation, Aliyu Miriam Ohunene, said the outreach was aimed at checking the health status of beneficiaries and providing treatment.
“We came to reach out to the people, to check their medical status and everything concerning their health, so we can diagnose, help them and give them medications,” she said.
She added that the team screened for malaria, checked blood pressure and vital signs, conducted HIV tests, and provided other basic health services.
“Our target is 100 people today. We are also attending to children, but our main focus today is adults,” she said.
Ohunene explained that the intervention was necessary because of the gap between local communities and the healthcare system.
“Some people cannot afford treatment for minor ailments like headache or malaria. We look for communities that need this kind of support and do what we can to bridge the disconnection between the medical sector and local communities,” she said.
Also speaking, Nurse Aliyu Marian said many people do not understand the importance of regular healthcare.
“Some of them do not understand the importance of medications and health checks. They think it’s something minimal. We are checking their vitals to ensure they are okay and have a good quality of life,” she said.
“My expectation is that at least 100 people will gain basic knowledge about their health and receive the medications they need. We will also educate them on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle,” she added.
While introducing the programme, Deputy Executive Director of RCF, Daniel Aliyu, said _Project THRIVE 1.0_ is a humanitarian medical outreach designed to bring essential healthcare services closer to underserved and vulnerable members of the community.
“The inaugural outreach focuses on 100 persons living with visual impairment in Bauchi. We are providing basic medical screening, malaria testing and treatment, vital signs and blood glucose checks, medical consultation, prescribed medications, and malaria prevention support through the distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets, LLINs,” he said.
He listed the objectives of the project to include: providing accessible healthcare to vulnerable groups, early identification of common health conditions, provision of treatment and essential medicines, support for malaria prevention and treatment, referral of cases needing further care, and promoting health equity for persons with visual impairment.
Declaring the outreach open, the Deputy Director, Primary Healthcare, Bauchi LGA, Mohammed Rashid Aliyu, commended the Foundation for the initiative.
He said the outreach came at the right time given the medical needs of residents, especially Persons With Disabilities, PWDs.
He assured that government would continue to collaborate with organizations complementing its efforts in the health sector and urged beneficiaries to take advantage of the free services.
Also speaking, the representative of the Sarkin Makafi, Abdullahi Jibrin, commended RCF for bringing healthcare to the community.
He noted that accessing medical services has been a major challenge for residents who are mostly PWDs, and called on government to pay special attention to the community to give them a sense of belonging.
Some beneficiaries expressed appreciation for the outreach, saying it would help them access medical care despite their disabilities. They, however, called for more support from government and other organizations.
