Nigerians to benefit from Rotary family health days free screening

Sixty thousand Nigerians across the country are set to benefit from a two-day free health screening exercise tagged ‘Family Health Days’ organised by Rotary Action Group for Family Health Aids Prevention, Rotary International, District 9110 comprising Lagos and Ogun states.

The programme kicks off on Thursday, June 23 and ends on Friday, June 24, 2022.

National Coordinator, Rotary Family Health Days, Nigeria, PDG Rotarian Bola Oyebade (right); PGD Dr. Kamaru Omotosho; Guest Speaker, Dr. Omolola Salako and Mrs. Adetoro Omojola at the flag off ceremony of the two-day Rotary National Family Health Days, held at the Rotary Centre, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.

He said the whole exercise which borders on early detection of ailment thorough medical check-up and screening, had been successfully carried out for the past ten years by the District with adequate follow-up.

“The rate at which people seek early attention and diagnosis these days is better than what it used to be. This is proof that we had successfully created awareness and achieved our objective,” he said.

The National Coordinator, Rotary Family Health Days, Nigeria, Past District Governor, Rotarian Bola Oyebade, said there are 60 centres across the country, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, with 36 across Lagos and the Ogun States where simultaneously, health checks and screening of prostate cancer, diabetes and glucose level, hypertension and malaria tests, among others would take place within the two days.

According to Oyebade, more than one million Nigerians had benefitted from the exercise since it started in 2012.

“We gave referrals to those that needed it, carried out breast and prostate cancer checks, treated eight prostrate cancer victims, distributed 20,000 mosquito nets every year and had not relented in reducing health hazards and we are still continuing.

“We partner with all the states ministry of health and those that believe in our course to sensitise Nigerians of the importance of knowing their health status.

“The Guest Speaker, the People’s Oncologist and founder, Sebeccly Cancer Care, Dr. Omolola Salako today spoke on cervical cancer, next year, it could be another topic,” he said.

“Salako allayed fear in going for cervical screening, the necessity of which she affirmed to avoid complications if delayed.

“Women up to the age of 25 that had been engaging in sex are advised to go for cervical screening while men up to 40 years and above should go for prostate cancer screening.

“Lagos State government should be commended with its open door for many international partners to collaborate with Primary healthcare board of Lagos State.

“Lagos State has more than 40 Primary Health Care centres where women could do screening and where any case of abnormality could be corrected,” she said.