Get Guardian on GoogleThe management of Igbo-Efon Primary Health Centre (PHC), Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, has commended the National Association of Seadogs (NAS), also known as the Pyrates Confraternity, for providing free medical services to residents of the community.
The commendation followed a free medical mission organised by the association at the health facility over the weekend to improve access to healthcare among residents, particularly those with limited resources.
The Officer-in-Charge of the PHC, Mrs Aderonmu Racheal Toyin, said the intervention was the first of its kind by an organisation at the facility, describing it as a welcome development for the community.
She said the initiative had helped attract more patients to the health centre and would strengthen public confidence in its services.
“NAS is the first organisation that would come and offer services to patients here. NAS’s gesture of giving free medical services to patients is very surprising. Doing this in the midst of the economic problems is commendable. The people of Igbo-Efon are very happy,” she said.
Aderonmu added that the mission would help build trust between the health facility and members of the community.
She, however, appealed to relevant authorities and stakeholders to address the electricity challenges confronting the PHC, explaining that its solar power system was inadequate to operate some equipment, particularly the air conditioners.
Speaking on the mission, the NAS Cap’n, Dr Charles Meribole, said the initiative was designed to improve the quality of primary healthcare delivery in local communities and complement government efforts.
Meribole, a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, said the association believed that access to affordable healthcare should be available to all Nigerians, stressing that effective healthcare delivery begins at the primary level.
He said the association deployed medical experts and drugs to provide healthcare services to residents, adding that the intervention was part of its commitment to making a positive impact in communities where its local chapters operate.
“We seek to improve the quality of primary healthcare in Nigeria through the NAS Medical Mission. We are here with our medical experts and drugs to provide adequate healthcare delivery to the people,” he said.
He assured residents that the association would sustain the initiative and continue to support efforts to make affordable medical care accessible at the grassroots.
Also speaking, the NAS Medical Pyrate, Dr Emmanuel Okpetu, described the mission as a health intervention programme aimed at supporting underserved communities, addressing gaps in healthcare delivery and promoting equitable access to quality medical services.
Okpetu noted that despite the urban character of the Lekki area, several rural and semi-urban communities within it still had residents with limited access to quality healthcare.
He said the association was not claiming to provide every medical service but was committed to using its available expertise to support people who needed assistance.
“Lekki is one of the most urbanised areas in Lagos. That does not mean it does not have rural and semi-urban areas or less privileged areas that lack access to quality healthcare. We are not offering everything, and we are not promising everything, but we are saying the little we can offer based on our expertise can go a long way to support rural inhabitants,” he said.
