The Ondo State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, has called for increased and regular health education among communities in the state to improve health awareness, early discovery of life threatening ailments and timely seeking of medical attention to save lives.

Ajibefun made the call as the Special Guest of honour at a two-Day Free Medical Outreach at Ilutitun Osoro organised by the Augustus Adeniyi Fanoro Memorial Health Foundation for diabetic/sugar, hypertension, arthritis and malaria fever patients.

The programme was co-sponsored by the CEO of Ilutitun Micro-finance Bank, Mr. Teni Faromoju; National Vice President, Manuwa Memorial Grammar School Old Students Association, Dr. Stephen Fasawe (FCA); General Ola Ohunye (retd.) and Mr. Doyin Adekanle.

The commissioner, represented by a senior director from the ministry, Mr. Loye Akinbuwa, expressed delight at the massive turnout of members of the community, especially the direct involvement of its paramount ruler, Oba Ernest Idepefo, and the various churches in the mobilisation of residents for the programme.

He advocated health awareness and education programmes among players in the informal sector of the economy, especially market women, farmers and artisans who he noted “are very strategic to national growth and development and to that extent their good health through free health programmes like this is key as government alone cannot do everything.”

The commissioner expressed worries at the very high level of individual cases of high blood pressure by many participants as well as the high prevalence of malaria fever, adding that that was why he called for increased community health education for the purpose of prevention, early detection and timely treatment.

The Chairman of the occasion, Oba Idepefor, pleaded with the State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to upgrade the town’s over 40 years old Comprehensive Health Centre to a General Hospital to cope with the town’s huge population as the most populated  community in Okutipupa Local Council.

In his opening remarks, Bishop of Diocese on The Coast, Anglican Communion, Rt. Revd. Seyi Pirisola, admonished members of the community to shun bigotry and embrace science and medicine, stressing that medicine was created by God and that prayers and medicine are complementary.