Hundreds of residents in Ijaiye, a rural community in Akinyele Local Government Area, benefitted from free medical services of the SIGMA Club, University of Ibadan Health Outreach held at the Town Hall.
The outreach, tagged “Eto Ilera Sigma Ijaiye,” brought critical healthcare services, including dental check-ups, blood pressure monitoring, blood sugar tests, and Body Mass Index (BMI) assessments, to the community members with limited access to health facilities.
Speaking during the outreach, Sigma Chief, who led the initiative, said, “We are here at Ijaiye town to give people free medical care. We have been doing this health outreach for two years now, and we decided to bring it to rural areas because people here have [limited access] to medical services. They are the ones who need it most, more than those in urban areas.”
The outreach saw an impressive turnout, with over 160 receiving medical attention. Medical personnels involved in the outreach noted the large number of patients needing attention, with one medic saying, “The turnout has been great. We have a lot of people, and we’ve only attended to a few. We’re actually understaffed given the number of people from Ijaiye town.”
For many residents, the outreach was more than just a day of health checks—it was a lifeline in a community where access to healthcare is a significant challenge. One resident, Mr. Adekunle, a 58-year-old farmer, expressed his relief after his blood pressure was checked for the first time in months.
“I’ve been feeling weak for weeks, but I had no money to go to the hospital. Today, I was able to see a doctor for free.”
Mrs. Abiola, a mother of four, said the outreach brought relief and hope. “I don’t have money to see a doctor, and my children have been falling ill. I’m so grateful for this help,” she said
Also, Sigma Club has partnered with the local primary health center in Ijaiye to ensure those with more severe health issues receive the care they need. “We’ve spoken with the matron at the Ijaiye Primary Health Centre. We’ll be referring people with serious cases to them so they can get further help,” the chief explained
He also revealed plans to expand the outreach to other towns and villages in the coming months.
