In a powerful demonstration of community service and healthcare access, the Heritage Advancement Forum (HAF) has delivered free medical care to residents in Ogombo Town, Ajah, Lagos State, as part of its annual medical outreach programme.

The outreach, held at the Old Ogudu Oshadi Palace in Ogombo, provided life-saving health services ranging from malaria treatment and diabetes screening to hypertension checks, medical consultations, and the distribution of free eyeglasses.

The event, themed ‘Health is Human Right’, was aimed at bridging the gap between underserved communities and access to essential health and educational support.

In his remarks, President of HAF, Anegbode Odion, said that the organisation, now in its eighth year, remains committed to grassroots intervention through free health programs and scholarships.

He stated, “What we do is charity, charity, charity. We offer scholarships to vulnerable children and organise yearly medical outreaches like this one to help communities that need them the most.”

While HAF does not operate a hospital, Odion revealed that the organisation follows up on certain serious cases after each outreach.

“If we diagnose conditions beyond the scope of the outreach, we refer patients. In some cases, we go further to sponsor treatment or surgery, as we have done in the past,” he said.

Odion added that with more outreach programs planned for other areas of Lagos, the goal is to scale up operations and impact more lives.

He pleaded for more collaborations with individuals and also partnerships with the government, to enable them to extend their reach.

“We are actively looking for sponsors and partners to help us reach more communities. The needs are many, and we are committed to doing more. Government cannot do it all. That’s why groups like ours step in. Communities like Ogombo need repeated interventions. Once is never enough,” he added.

With a strong turnout of residents queuing for check-ups and free medication, the Head of Medical Team at HAF, Dr. Gerald Chinaza, explained that the team no longer works with strict targets but prepares to attend to everyone within their hours of operation.

Chinaza highlighted that their services include medical consultation, health checks, distribution of drugs, and eye tests by licensed optometrists.

“We also hand out free eyeglasses when needed. It’s more than healthcare; it’s humanitarian work,” he noted, adding that sometimes the outreach includes health talks, food supplies, and clothing.

A beneficiary, Perpetual Ozor, who received treatment for malaria and persistent waist pain, showered praises on the sponsors, describing it as a timely intervention.

“I have not been feeling well for weeks. I was treated today, and I got drugs for both the malaria and the pain. I am really thankful because I couldn’t afford to go to the hospital,” she said.

Another beneficiary, the Balogun of Ogombo Kingdom, Chief Samiliu Arebishola, was full of thanks after undergoing several health checks and receiving a pair of free prescription glasses.

“This outreach is timely and thoughtful. I received treatment for malaria and was also given new glasses after an eye test. The people of Ogombo are grateful. This is the kind of support our community needs more often,” Arebishola said.