By Dhikroh Ahmad, Ilorin
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kwara State Chapter has offered free medical health care and free drugs to the members of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) in the state.
The medical outreach was part of the activities marking the association’s 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Scientific Conference.
Speaking on the rationale behind the gesture; Abdulkadir Ola Ahmed, a medical doctor and the Chairman of NMA in Kwara explained that the outreach which took place at the Police Cottage/Comprehensive Health Centre at Kulende, in Ilorin, was to give back to the society and strengthen tie among the two professions.
He said: “since the inception of my administration, NMA has enjoyed a good relationship with the top hierarchy of the Nigeria Police, Kwara Command.
“We now decided to use the opportunity of our AGM to reach out to the other Officers and Men of the Command”.
He added that the outreach is to help people solve some minor ailments, identify major ones that will require counselling and other management and refer appropriately.
Ahmed observed that things are difficult now and one of the ways the association helps the people is to carry out medical outreach for the citizens.
He urge people in Kwara to key into the Kwara State Health Insurance Scheme (Kwara Care) to mitigate the impact of economic hardship on their health.
“Kwara Care is affordable, available and accessible across the 16 Local Government Area of the state,” he said.
In his submission, Julius Dare (Dr) the Vice Chairman 1, NMA in Kwara explained that during the medical outreach about 216 adults and 48 children were attended to, out of which 90 NPF were giving free healthcare and services.
He pointed out that the NMA chose to extend the medical outreach to the NPF so as to foster good relationship.
“We must say that we have enjoyed good relationship with the police. In a way, our roles are the same; we are involved in saving lives, the police also protect lives and properties.
“The medical outreach also afford opportunity to screen and improve the status of the health of the police.
“This is also an opportunity for us to reduce the global morbidity especially for non-communicable diseases which we have noticed to be on increase.
“Hopefully we can reach out to other agencies subsequently in our medical outreach,” he said.
The medical expert disclosed that some of the health challenges recorded includes malaria, hypertension, diabetes, peptic ulcer diseases and musculo-skeletal pain generally associated with the elderly.
He advised the NPF and the generality of people that health is wealth thus, everybody should take care of their health.
Dare observed that healthcare is not cheap in the country, and that people should be more involved in preventive health care.
In his reaction, Ajayi Okasanmi, the Kwara State Police Public Relation Officer commended NMA for the medical outreach to its members.
He described the relationship between the force and NMA as cordial, while appreciating the efforts of NMA, particularly the Chairman, Ola Ahmed.
“We have been working and collaborating together. The two of us are also working towards the same goals, although on different platforms.
“The NPF are saving lives and properties of the citizenry while the NMA are also protect and safe lives,” he said.
Okasanmi, disclosed that the force and NMA will be engaged in a friendly football match to ensure stronger relationship.
