Over 500 Ikorodu Residents Benefit From iCare Foundation’s Free Medical Outreach
By Emmanuel Daniji
More than 500 residents of Ikorodu Federal Constituency have benefited from a free medical outreach organised by the Jimi Benson’s iCare Foundation as part of efforts to take basic healthcare services closer to the grassroots.
The biannual programme, held on Saturday, provided residents with free medical screening, consultations and basic interventions, with a strong focus on preventive healthcare and early detection.
The latest edition was expanded to accommodate more beneficiaries and provide a wider range of medical services than previous editions.
Residents who attended the programme received general health checks, blood pressure and blood sugar tests, dental examinations and vision screening.
Beneficiaries requiring vision support were also provided with free eyeglass frames.
Unlike medical interventions that focus mainly on treating people after they fall ill, the programme encouraged residents to pay closer attention to their health by regularly checking their health status and seeking medical advice when necessary.
Speaking on the initiative, Director-General of the Jimi Benson’s iCare Foundation, Mayor Deen Sanwoola, said the decision to expand the outreach was driven by the need to make basic healthcare more accessible to residents.
Sanwoola said the initiative reflected the philosophy of the member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Babajimi Benson, that effective representation should address issues that directly affect the daily lives of constituents.
“Healthcare should not only be about what happens when someone is already seriously ill. Prevention, early detection and health education are equally important,” he said.
He noted that the turnout demonstrated the demand for accessible community-based healthcare, particularly as the rising cost of medical services continues to place pressure on families.
“The fact that more than 500 people came out to take advantage of this opportunity tells us something important: people want to know their health status and take care of themselves, but accessibility and cost can sometimes stand in the way,” Sanwoola added.
He said making the services available at no cost was one way of reducing some of the barriers preventing residents from accessing basic healthcare.
The outreach was coordinated by Alhaja Olabisi Odumbo, Coordinator of iCare Women, the women’s wing of the foundation.
Odumbo said the turnout exceeded the organisers’ initial expectations.
According to her, the programme was originally planned to attend to about 500 residents, but more people arrived seeking to benefit from the services.
Despite the unexpected turnout, she said the medical team worked to accommodate as many residents as possible.
The medical personnel attended to residents’ complaints, conducted examinations and offered medical advice, while participants were encouraged to maintain regular health checks beyond the outreach.
Odumbo described the programme as a recurring intervention of the foundation, explaining that the scale varies depending on the particular edition.
“Sometimes we hold it as a big event, and sometimes as a smaller one,” she said.
She also reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to sustaining the initiative.
Residents who benefited from the outreach expressed appreciation to Hon. Babajimi Benson and the iCare Foundation, describing the programme as timely, particularly for people who may struggle to afford routine medical checks.
They also commended the initiative for bringing healthcare services directly into the community rather than requiring residents to travel far or incur additional costs before receiving basic medical attention.
The latest intervention forms part of the wider community development activities associated with Benson’s office and the iCare Foundation, which include healthcare, food support, education, youth development and business empowerment initiatives.
With more than 500 residents reached in the latest edition, the foundation’s medical outreach continues to provide a grassroots platform for preventive healthcare, early detection and basic medical intervention across Ikorodu Federal Constituency.
