In continuation of its Free Health Mission 2024 in Lagos, Yoruba Nurses of North America (YORNNA) has taken its medical outreach to the people of Lagos Island.
The medical outreach began on Monday 16th of December 2024, at Popo Aguda, Lagos Island where the turnout was massive as 200 people were registered and attended to by professionals and health care providers on ground.
Featuring general medical check-up and screenings for blood sugar, blood pressure, vision, dental, provision of free medication as well as the distribution of palliative items to the people. The group also sponsored a 1-year health insurance scheme for people diagnosed with advanced stage of high blood pressure.
Worthy of mentioning is the medical assistance extended to Adiza Sonibare, a 12-year old Sickle Cell Anaemia patient who was placed under health insurance for a period of one year by YORNNA.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen during the exercise, a notable personality who attended the event; former Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Ade Sonubi commended the effort of Yoruba Nurses of North America for taking it upon themselves to complement government’s effort in providing quality health services to the people.
He said; “It is impossible for any government to single-handedly handle the issues in the health sector. And the best way is always with public-private partnership. They came on their own without any encouragement to help extend what limited services the government can provide. We have people outside who have experience, and the beauty is many of them have seen things there and here, and can actually tell the difference between what is applicable there and what is practiced here. Sometimes, you have people come in from other climes with the best of knowledge, best of intention, best of practice that cannot be applicable here. What we have seen are practical application of their experiences outside Nigeria and try to see how we can get the best of what we have.” – Sonubi stated
Sonubi also advised the government to offer support and encourage groups and associations like Yoruba Nurses of North America who have shown good intention to assist the government in providing essential services. “I would recommend that the government try to work with people who have shown good intent and encourage them in whatever ways, maybe arranging this kind of retreat with a number of them and providing some kind of support”, he added.
Comparing the last year’s Health mission in Ile-Ife and this Year’s Health Mission in Lagos, the Yornna’s Secretary of the board of trustee and Yornna’s chapter leader in the states of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia in United States of America , Dr Adebisi Olayinka Allison, expressed her excitement at the large turnout of people who came for check-up and treatment at YORNNA 2024. She also hinted that this year’s medical outreach received more support from local health care providers than the previous year.
Dr Adebisi Allison then appealed to other health practitioners in diaspora who are yet to join the Yoruba Nurses of North America (YORNNA) to team up with them so that the association can do more and achieve better results.
