Former member of the House of Representatives, Shina Peller, has launched a community healthcare programme in Oyo North Senatorial District, providing free medical consultations, health screenings and medication to residents of Iseyin and neighbouring communities.

The initiative, known as the Pellercare 360 Community Impact Tour, commenced at Aseyin Ojude Oba Market Square in Iseyin, Oyo State, as part of efforts by the Pellercare Foundation to improve access to basic healthcare services.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Peller said public officeholders and political leaders should prioritise the welfare of citizens rather than concentrate solely on electoral activities.

The former lawmaker, who also holds the traditional title of Ayedero of Yorubaland, said access to healthcare should be treated as a fundamental requirement for community development.

“Before we ask for their votes, we must ask and care about their health,” he said.

According to Peller, the programme is designed to bring healthcare services closer to residents who may face financial or logistical difficulties accessing medical facilities.

The outreach, organised under the theme “Alaafia De Ile Wa,” is expected to cover communities across the 13 local government areas of Oyo North Senatorial District.

The Iseyin outreach featured consultations, diagnostic screenings, minor medical procedures and the distribution of prescribed medicines.

Organisers said medical personnel attended to residents from Iseyin and surrounding communities during the programme.

Services were provided through four designated clinical sections: the Women’s Health Pavilion, Men’s Health Corner, Elders Honour Clinic and Child Health Festival.

The arrangement was intended to address different healthcare needs across age groups and patient categories.

At the women’s section, participants received consultations covering maternal health, fertility-related concerns and breast examinations.

The men’s section offered health assessments, including blood pressure checks, diabetes screening and cardiovascular evaluations.

Older residents received consultations focused on age-related health concerns, while children benefited from paediatric assessments and deworming services.

According to the organisers, prescribed medications were provided without charge to beneficiaries who required them.

The foundation described attendance at the Iseyin programme as substantial, although independently verified figures showing the number of patients examined and treated were not supplied.

The Central and Coordinating Doctor for Pellercare 360, Dr Williams Edet, said the programme brought together medical specialists, nurses and pharmacists to provide services to residents.

Edet explained that the team deployed diagnostic equipment to conduct examinations and identify health conditions requiring attention.

He identified hypertension, diabetes and other cardiovascular risk factors among the conditions assessed during the outreach.

According to him, the medical team also provided maternal health consultations, breast examinations, geriatric assessments and paediatric services.

He said arrangements were made to refer patients requiring additional evaluation or continued medical management to appropriate healthcare facilities.

The organisers said the referral process was intended to ensure that patients requiring further attention were not left without guidance after the outreach.

Some residents who attended the programme described the financial challenges associated with obtaining routine medical care.

A 72-year-old beneficiary, Pa Rasheed Adewole, said the cost of hospital visits and prescribed medicines had made regular healthcare difficult for him.

Adewole, who received attention at the Elders Honour Clinic, expressed appreciation for the opportunity to undergo basic medical checks and obtain medication without payment.

He also commended the medical personnel for their treatment of older patients.

Another beneficiary, Mrs Adijat Salim, 38, said she attended the Women’s Health Pavilion for a breast examination and maternal health counselling.

Salim described the consultation as helpful, particularly because she did not have to pay for the services.

She said the availability of free medical attention reduced the immediate financial burden on her household.

A 45-year-old trader, Taiwo Ogundele, said the screening exercise revealed that his blood pressure was dangerously high.

According to Ogundele, the medical team provided medication and advice on dietary changes after examining him.

He said the experience demonstrated the importance of routine health checks, particularly for traders and other workers who may postpone medical consultations because of work demands.

A mother of two, Mrs Comfort Adewale, 29, also commended the paediatric services provided during the programme.

Adewale said the medical personnel examined her children and took time to explain their health needs.

She welcomed the decision to bring child healthcare services directly to the community.

Addressing participants at the event, Peller said political engagement should be accompanied by practical efforts to improve people’s living conditions.

He argued that healthcare access should be a priority for individuals and organisations seeking to contribute to community development.

The former lawmaker said the Pellercare Foundation intended to use the outreach to address immediate health needs while drawing attention to the importance of preventive care.

Peller said the programme was conceived to reach residents across different socioeconomic backgrounds.

He expressed satisfaction with the turnout at the Iseyin event and thanked the medical personnel involved in delivering the services.

The foundation said its longer-term objective was to strengthen access to healthcare within communities in Oyo North.

Following the Iseyin programme, organisers identified Ogbomoso Town Hall in Ogbomoso North Local Government Area as the next venue for the Pellercare 360 Community Impact Tour.

The foundation said the next outreach would also provide medical consultations, screenings and other healthcare services.

It did not specify the date of the Ogbomoso exercise in the supplied announcement.

The organisers said the initiative was planned to extend across all 13 local government areas in Oyo North Senatorial District.

The launch of Pellercare 360 draws attention to the role of community medical outreaches in providing temporary access to healthcare services.

Such programmes can offer opportunities for residents to undergo basic examinations, obtain health information and identify conditions requiring further medical attention.

However, they do not replace the need for functioning primary healthcare facilities, qualified medical personnel, reliable medicine supplies and continuing treatment.

For Peller and the Pellercare Foundation, the initiative represents an effort to provide medical services directly to residents while promoting a broader discussion about healthcare access and community welfare.

The next phase in Ogbomoso is expected to provide another opportunity to assess how the programme is being implemented and whether the organisers can sustain its proposed coverage across the senatorial district.