Abiodun’s wife backs free surgeries, urges support for poor

The wife of the Ogun State governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, has reiterated the importance of supporting the less privileged in society, urging wealthy individuals to lend a helping hand to the vulnerable in order to create a better world for all.

Mrs. Abiodun made the call on Wednesday at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, while flagging off a free surgical outreach organised by her office in partnership with a team of surgeons and medical doctors based in the United States.

She explained that the free surgeries were aimed at helping indigent residents who cannot afford treatment for ailments such as hernia, fibroids, goitre, and cataracts.

The First Lady disclosed that she had partnered with the US-based medical team for several years to expand the reach of the annual medical intervention, ensuring a conducive and professional environment like OOUTH for the procedures.

“The take-home message here is that many wealthy people have more than they need, while many others lack basic necessities. What we have in excess could be life-saving for someone else. God didn’t give us wealth for ourselves alone—we must support others”, Abiodun said.

She added, “It is also important to teach our children by example. When they see us giving back, they learn the culture of generosity. It’s a value we should all embrace for a better society.”

Giving updates on the exercise, she noted that 51 surgeries had been successfully carried out in the first two days, with about 175 patients on the waiting list.

Leader of the medical team, Dr. Musbau Kasumu, said the initiative was meant to complement the state government’s efforts to provide quality healthcare. He announced that the team had donated a multimillion-naira endoscope machine to the teaching hospital.

“The endoscope helps detect abnormalities from the mouth to the stomach using a video camera. It’s a vital tool in diagnosing internal issues early,” he said.

Kasumu also advised Nigerians to prioritise their health by regularly checking their blood pressure, blood sugar, and undergoing routine medical check-ups.

The Chief Medical Director of OOUTH, Dr. Oluwabunmi Fatungase, praised the collaboration, saying it was expanding access to quality care in the state.

She hailed the donation of the endoscope machine, describing it as a game-changer for early cancer detection.

“There are some silent cancers, like colon cancer, that present symptoms similar to diarrhoea or constipation. Many don’t know it’s cancer until it’s too late. This machine will help with early diagnosis and improve outcomes,” she said.

Source:- Punch