Sola POPOOLA
Scores of residents in Oyo and Ibadan have benefitted from the Free Malaria and HIV Test organised by a non Governmental organisation, Hacey Health Initiative .
The programme being supported by the Access Bank is part of the universal Health coverage program as instituted by the United Nation Organisation (UNO)
The programme is designed for the people to access full range of quality Health services without financial burden.
Speaking on behalf of the Executive Director Hacey Initiative Rhoda Robinson ,the Project Lead and Oyo State Coordinator of the NGO, Mr owolabi Abayomi disclosed that the programme had afforded the beneficiaries the opportunity to access quality health care .
He explained that the programme also exposed them to the danger inherent in patronising quacks and indulging in self – medication.
“What’s is on the ground hitherto, is that patients have to pay for any laboratory test which often they can’t afford and there’s turning away to quacks and self medication which have a dire health consequences.”
The NGO is also implementing a capacity building for Females Genital mutilation/ StopCut Victims christened FGM Survivors.
The program took place in two communities of Oke Olala primary Health Care Center in Atiba Local government and Oke Adu. Primary Health Care Center. Ibadan North East Local Government,all in Oyo State .
No fewer than 200 benefitted from the two health interventions implemented by the NGO .
According to Abayomi FGM “is any procedure carried out on the external female genital organ to either remove totally or partially or causes an injury to this part for none medical purposes”
He lamented that “it’s a traumatic and painful procedure it’s a traditional practice on going for over 2000years and takes away the divinity of women and violates their human rights. Nigeria is one of the four countries that account for 66percent of the global burden. And to put and end to this harmful practice the need for today program
According to him, several health challenges usually accompany FGM such as :Severe pains ,shock and bleeding. Others are ;Infection ( HIV, tetanus, urinary tract infection and reproductive tract infection.)
He hinted that findings have shown that FGM survivors usually faced with many health challenges such as difficulties in urinating and menstruating as result of excessive scars .
All the myths and misconceptions about FGM were also dispelled at the training.
For instance ,the organisers explained that the unfounded belief that FGM has some benefits to women were false “.It is a harmful tradition practice.
“It not our culture or tradition in the first instance.its purpose is simply to devalue women. Cutting got nothing to do with waywardness.”
Other issues are psychological problem, complications in pregnancy and childbirth, obstetrics fistula and Death.FGM has no benefits whatsoever. ”
The project is being carried out in pilot states of Oyo, Ebonyin, Kaduna , Taraba and Delta .
A community leader, Alhaji Buliamimu Busari while expressing appreciation to the organizers said many women and patients who normally avoid medical test due to lack of fund were given the opportunity to access it at no cost.
Alhaji Busari therefore chanrged the organisers not go make the programme a one-off thing, but ensure that it is regular inorder to save millions of the downtrodden from avoidable deaths.