Ogun Muslim Council Takes Medical Outreach Across Four Zones
The initiative, launched in Ijebu-Ode, provided free healthcare to more than 500 beneficiaries and will rotate through Ogun’s four Muslim zones every three months.
By Abdullahi Yusuf
The Ogun State Muslim Council has launched a quarterly medical outreach programme that will take free healthcare services to Muslim communities across the state’s four zones.
The maiden edition of the initiative was held on Sunday at Oke-Oyinbo Primary Health Centre in Ijebu-Ode, where more than 500 beneficiaries received free healthcare services.
The programme, which began in the Ijebu Zone, is expected to rotate every three months through the Egba, Remo and Yewa zones, extending the council’s health initiative to communities across the state.
Representing the President-General of the Ogun State Muslim Council and Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba (Prof.) Saka Adelola Matemilola, the council’s Vice-President-General for Ijebu Zone, Otunba (Engineer) Fatai Arowolo, said the initiative was designed to promote a physically strong and healthy Muslim community.
He described good health as a profound blessing and a sacred trust from Almighty Allah, noting that poor health could undermine people’s ability to engage fully in their daily activities and acts of worship.
Oba Matemilola expressed appreciation to philanthropists, medical professionals, partners and volunteers whose resources, expertise and time contributed to the success of the programme.
He encouraged Muslims across the state to take advantage of the outreach when it reaches their communities, particularly to know their health status and adopt healthier living practices.
The Secretary-General of the council, Asiwaju Kamaldeen Akintunde, said the programme was aimed at building a vibrant, strong and healthy Muslim community capable of contributing to the development of Ogun State and Nigeria.
“To ensure a healthy lifestyle, we must have this kind of a programme for early detection of diseases. We must pray and fulfil our obligations to Allah; we must be healthy to worship Allah,” he said.
Chairman of the Central Planning Committee and General Purpose Committee of the council, Alhaji Waheed Qadri, said the outreach demonstrated the council’s commitment to the welfare and development of the Muslim community and wider society.
He said the programme was designed to provide free basic healthcare services, promote preventive healthcare and encourage early detection of health conditions.
The services provided included medical consultations, health screening, eye and dental services, laboratory investigations, medication and health education.
Qadri said the rotational structure was intended to ensure that the benefits of the programme were not concentrated in one location but progressively extended to communities across the state.
He commended the Ijebu Zone for hosting the maiden edition and acknowledged the contributions of the planning committee, the host chairman, Alhaji (Omoba) Akib Adebola Yisa-Adebanjo, medical professionals, volunteers, donors and supporting organisations.
He also called on stakeholders to regard the initiative as a collective responsibility, saying its success and sustainability would depend on resource mobilisation, accountability and continuous improvement from one edition to another.
The State Chairman of the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN), Dr Ibraheem Ope-ewe, pledged the association’s continued participation in the programme.
He urged members of the public to undergo regular medical check-ups to know their health status, detect diseases early and adopt preventive measures against illness.
One of the major donors to the initiative, the Aare Musulumi of Ijebuland, Musbau Oyefeso, also stressed the importance of regular medical check-ups.
Oyefeso urged Muslims to embrace preventive healthcare and called on Islamic clerics to incorporate health talks into their sermons to promote healthier lifestyles among Muslims.
For some beneficiaries, the outreach provided immediate access to services for their health concerns.
Azeezat Ayilara, who consulted dentists at the centre, praised the medical personnel for their prompt response to her dental complaint and thanked the organisers for the programme.
Another beneficiary, Hussein Abdul-Roheem, received eyeglasses and eye drops, while Muniru Idowu received treatment for the continued management of an eye condition. Both commended the optometrists for their attention and praised the council for organising the outreach.
The event ended with the presentation of certificates to members of the planning committee and medical personnel in recognition of their contributions to the programme, including Hajia Kudirat Yeni and Dr Oloko.
The Ogun State Muslim Council said the outreach will continue in the state’s other zones as part of its quarterly programme.
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