About one thousand people in the Ketu-Alapere area of Lagos, Nigeria, Saturday, benefitted from free medical care, courtesy of an international Non-Governmental Organisation, Open Hands Amazing Charitable Organisation Inc. based in New York, the United States.
The beneficiaries, across religions and tribes, were tested for high blood pressure, and diabetes and given drugs free of charge at the St. Michael Catholic Church, Ketu, Lagos.
All the beneficiaries also received food packs while the elderly ones among them went home with additional five thousand naira each.
The medical doctor who led the medical outreach, Brother Kingsley Okonta, said “the Open Hands Amazing Charitable Organisation is out in full to take care of the needy and the poor and the sick.”
He said, “We are here to administer free medical care to as many as they are that are ready to take the free opportunity. We are also here not only to give them drugs, we are here to check their BP, sugar levels and consultation.
“I have doctors that are here consulting. I have qualified medical lab technicians and scientists. I have qualified pharmacists and qualified nurses. They are all here to perform the all round medical process.”
Brother Okonta said the medical outreach was not just about the health of the needy but also their spiritual well-being for those who wanted to seize the opportunity to draw closer to God.
“We are also here to give them free food and Bible. Everything that is going on here is free of charge. It is not just for Catholics or Christians. The outreach is for everybody in Ketu in Lagos State,” he said.
Brother Okonta, who said the outreach had been to other parts of the country, called on well meaning Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora to help the needy and the sick in the society.
Addressing the beneficiaries before the commencement of the programme, Brother Okonta advised them to always have regular medical check up for early diagnosis of ailments such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
He warned the people against self medication as such could cause more harm than good.
Speaking from her base in New York, the United States, the Founder of the Open Hands Amazing Charitable Organisation Inc, Dr (Mrs) Magdalene Agada said she was fulfilled that her modest philanthropic gesture were touching people’s lives.
“The reason why I am doing this is to put smiles on the faces of the less privileged people – children, widows, and the elderly. I feel I should give opportunity to second life to people in Nigeria in this harsh economy where many can hardly put food on the table.
“We are going through the darkest time worldwide. Giving out and sharing with one another is a thing of joy. I am doing this in Nigeria so that people all over the world will key in my vision to extend love to the less privileged. All is not money. No matter how small it is, it is good to share with one another, especially to people that cannot afford to buy medication or see doctors in Nigeria, ” said Dr Agada.
The beneficiaries expressed gratitude at the medical outreach and urged other well meaning Nigerians to follow suit.
Expressing joy at the opportunity of benefitting from the programme Mr David Adegoke commended the organisers for their unique approach and thoughtfulness.
“The programme came to us as a good surprise and it’s also beneficial to myself and every other partakers. Things like always come up but this one, the organisers know what they’re doing. They have enough drugs to go round and the all the tests were perfect. They used professionals and at the end of the day, they even feed our belly because sometimes the sickness is just food,” said Mr Adegoke.
Another beneficiary simply identified as Francesca was full of prayer for the organisers.
“The programme is very good. I thank them. May God bless them. It is very good because those who have no money to buy medicine they came here and they gave them free medicine. I thank them. May God reward them for all they are doing,” an elated Francesca prayed.
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