targets 13 LGAs In Oyo North Healthcare Drive
By Salam Saheed
Former member of the House of Representatives and Oyo North Senatorial Candidate , Hon. Shina Abiola Peller, has called on political leaders and public officeholders to prioritise the health and welfare of the people above electoral considerations, declaring that meaningful leadership must be demonstrated through practical interventions that directly improve citizens’ living conditions.
He made the call on Friday at the flag-off of the Pellercare 360 Community Impact Tour, a community-based healthcare initiative designed to provide free medical consultations, diagnostic screenings and prescribed medications to residents across the 13 LGs of Oyo North Senatorial District.
The programme, organised by the Pellercare Foundation under the theme, “Alaafia De Ile Wa”(Good Health Comes to Our Homes), commenced at Aseyin Ojude Oba Market Square, Iseyin, Oyo State.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Senator Hopeful, who holds the traditional title of Ayedero of Yorubaland, stressed that political engagement should not be restricted to electioneering campaigns but should encompass tangible efforts to address the fundamental needs of the electorate.
“Before we ask for their votes, we must ask and care about their health,” he said.
The former lawmaker maintained that, access to healthcare was an indispensable component of community development, noting that financial constraints and other barriers continued to make it difficult for some residents to obtain timely medical attention.
He explained that the Pellercare 360 initiative was conceived to bring essential medical services closer to the people, particularly those who might otherwise defer consultations and treatment because of the cost of accessing healthcare facilities.
The Iseyin outreach featured medical consultations, diagnostic examinations, minor medical procedures and the distribution of prescribed medications to beneficiaries without charge.
To accommodate the diverse healthcare needs of participants, the organisers established four specialised service sections: the Women’s Health Pavilion, Men’s Health Corner, Elders Honour Clinic and Child Health Festival.
At the Women’s Health Pavilion, beneficiaries received consultations on maternal health, fertility-related concerns and breast examinations, while the Men’s Health Corner provided blood pressure checks, diabetes screening and cardiovascular risk assessments.
The Elders Honour Clinic focused on age-related health concerns, while the Child Health Festival offered paediatric assessments and deworming services.
The organisers said patients requiring further medical investigation or sustained treatment were referred to appropriate healthcare facilities for additional attention.
Speaking on the medical component of the programme, the Central and Coordinating Doctor of Pellercare 360, Dr Williams Edet, said the exercise brought together medical specialists, nurses and pharmacists to provide a range of services to residents of Iseyin and neighbouring communities.
Edet explained that diagnostic equipment was deployed to facilitate examinations and identify health conditions requiring medical attention.
He listed hypertension, diabetes and other cardiovascular risk factors among the conditions assessed during the outreach, adding that the medical team also attended to maternal health concerns and provided geriatric and paediatric services.
According to him, arrangements were made to guide patients requiring specialised investigations or continued medical management towards appropriate healthcare facilities.
Some beneficiaries who participated in the exercise expressed appreciation for the intervention, particularly in view of the financial demands associated with routine medical consultations and prescribed medications.
A 72-year-old beneficiary, Pa Rasheed Adewole, said the cost of hospital visits and medicines had made regular healthcare increasingly difficult for him.
Adewole, who received attention at the Elders Honour Clinic, commended the organisers for providing free medical examinations and medications to beneficiaries.
Similarly, Mrs Adijat Salim, 38, who visited the Women’s Health Pavilion for a breast examination and maternal health counselling, described the service as beneficial, noting that it relieved her of the immediate financial burden associated with the consultation.
A 45-year-old trader, Taiwo Ogundele, said a medical examination conducted during the outreach revealed that his blood pressure was dangerously high.
He said the medical team provided medication and advice on dietary adjustments, adding that the experience had underscored the importance of routine health checks, particularly among traders and other workers who often postpone medical consultations because of work schedules.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Comfort Adewale, 29, a mother of two, commended the paediatric services, saying the medical personnel examined her children and explained their healthcare needs.
Speaking on the development,Shina Peller reiterated that the foundation intended to use the initiative to address immediate healthcare needs while promoting preventive medical practices and improving awareness of the importance of regular health examinations.
He expressed satisfaction with the response to the Iseyin flag-off and appreciated the medical personnel and other stakeholders who contributed to the exercise.
Following the Iseyin outreach, the organisers identified Ogbomoso Town Hall, in Ogbomoso North Local Government Area, as the next venue for the Pellercare 360 Community Impact Tour. A specific date for the exercise was, however, not provided in the announcement.
The foundation said the programme was designed to extend to all 13 local government areas in Oyo North Senatorial District.
Although community-based medical outreaches can provide immediate access to basic examinations and health information, their long-term impact depends partly on the availability of functional primary healthcare facilities, qualified medical personnel, essential medicines and sustained treatment for patients requiring further attention.