The Obafemi Awolowo University Medical Students’ Association, through its Health Awareness Club, The Ifumsa Health Awareness Club has provided free medical care to residents of the Ede community in Osun State.
The outreach, which has become a yearly tradition of the students’ body, is aimed at extending essential healthcare to underserved communities across Osun State.
This year’s edition featured a team of about 80 medical, dental, and pharmacy students, supported by five surgeons, four anaesthetists, and six perioperative nurses from the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative on Saturday, the club’s chairman, Ibironke Bright, a final-year medical student, described it as a platform to give back to society.
“We have been doing this over the years, and every time, the reality that many people cannot afford basic healthcare services persistently dawns on us.
“This is why we continually make efforts to keep up with the project, and this year, we planned to make our biggest impact yet,” she said.
Also, the Local Organising Committee chairperson, Sunday Osuntoye, explained that the outreach was designed to align with global health goals.
Osuntoye stated, “Health equity is what we must aim for, and that is why our club’s motto says ‘wholesome health for all’.
“Health services must also be accessible and affordable to all, and that is what universal health coverage is about. That is why we are providing these free services.”
The exercise recorded over 300 beneficiaries who accessed free services, including day-case surgeries, blood pressure and blood sugar checks, hepatitis B and HIV screening, urinalysis, body mass index assessment, dental and ophthalmology consultations, as well as medications.
The beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the medical students and health professionals for bringing such life-saving services to their community.
In 2024, the student group provided free medical care such as a day-case surgeries such as lipoma excision and hernia repair, health education, free medications and consultations, dental checkups, eye care with free lens prescriptions by ophthalmologists, and various screenings including HIV, Hepatitis B, blood sugar, body mass index, urinalysis and malaria parasite tests for children and other residents of the Ifewara community in Osun.
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