By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
A Bauchi based community based organisation (CBO) known as Kobi-Ilelah (KO’ILE) Development Forum have conducted it’s second annual free medical outreach services to over 700 vulnerable residents of Kobi/Ilelah quarters in Bauchi metropolis.
The free medical outreach service, was held on Tuesday 27th November, 2023 at the heart of Ilelah Quarters of Bauchi metropolis, with residents of the area coming out in their hundreds to access the free healthcare services.
In a welcome remarks, Chairman of Ko’ile Development Forum, Mallam Mustapha Abubakar Jidda said that the primary objective of the free medical outreach services was to bring succor to the most vulnerable groups of the area through the provision of free healthcare access.
The Chairman said that the gesture was also aimed at complementing Government efforts in the areas of basic healthcare to residents of Kobi and Ilelah.
Mallam Jidda also informed the gathering that KO’ILE is also supporting in the area of education and community self help of it’s residents.
This according to the Chairman was through securing admissions into tertiary institutions and organizing extramural classes for eligible beneficiaries.
He then appealed to well meaning members of the community to support the Forum in it’s laudable initiatives of improving the lives of indigent members of the community.
Earlier speaking , head of the health subcommittee of KO’ILE,Dr. Kabir Audi said that the services of outreach exercise include: free screening and testing of hypertension, malaria, hepatitis and other ailments and, drugs dispensing.
He said about 2 million naira was expended in the procurement of adequate drugs and other medical consumables and that referrals will be issued to cases that are beyond the limits of the outreach services.
Dr. Audi said that 5 medical doctors, 5 pharmacists, 6 Laboratory scientists/technicians and several other healthcare service providers have volunteered to offer their services and support to exercise.
He the enjoined the residents to pay attention to their health and always seek to ascertain their health status intermittently.
There was good will message from Chiroman Bauchi, Alhaji Nuru Adamu Jumba, who was represented by Alhaji Usman Inuwa, Hardon Bauchi, commending the effort of KO’ILE and also calling on other communities to take a cue and emulate the Forum’s humanitarian services.
Speaking on the side line with Journalists, Alhaji Abubakar Jafaru Ilelah, the Deputy Chairman of KO’ILE said the outreach services was organized in a manner where beneficiaries were separated according to sexes.
Ilelah, who described the free medical outreach services as a humanitarian approach to assisting the less privileged, said adequate provisions for drugs and testing kits was made to cater for all the beneficiaries that came out to access the services.
He expressed his optimism that the free service provision to the community will ameliorate some of the basic health challenges some members of the community were through.