300 people receive free healthcare from RCCG in Lagos

Some of the beneficiaries and medical personnel. Photo: Johnson Idowu

At least 300 residents from the Oshodi area of Lagos State got free medical help from a health outreach organized by the Calvary Zonal Headquarters, Province 89 of The Redeemed Christian Church of God.

This annual outreach took place at the church in Oshodi on Saturday. It offered free medical consultations, eye exams, blood sugar and blood pressure checks, and other important screenings and medications.

Pastor Jeffrey Aganbi, the Pastor-in-Charge of the Zone, spoke at the event. He said the outreach shows the church's commitment to helping its local community.

He shared that this effort follows the guidance of the General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye. He encourages churches to make a positive impact in their communities through acts of service.

"It is a directive from the General Overseer, Pastor Adeboye, that churches should go out of their way to be a blessing to their community, a kind of corporate social responsibility."

"We also recognized that there is a gap between the government and being able to meet the medical needs of our people. So we’re trying to fill that gap. We saw a need for people to have access to medical care. We are targeting 300 people this year," Aganbi said.

He urged churches across Nigeria to help the government by investing in healthcare, education, and community projects. He noted that faith-based groups can help improve the lives of underserved communities.

Aganbi also called on government officials to engage more with local communities.

"Government can be closer to the people, meet basic needs, provide water, and Nigeria can be better. Nigeria can be greater than where we are now," he added.

Dr. Rotimi Adesanya, a Family and Public Health Physician, volunteered at the outreach. He said hypertension was the most common health issue found during the outreach. Many people learned for the first time that they had high blood pressure.

He asked the Federal Government to make essential medicines, especially antihypertensive drugs, available for free. He stressed that hypertension needs continuous treatment.

Adesanya advised residents to join the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme, Ilera Eko, for affordable healthcare and access to medications all year round.

"People should take good care of their health because, as they say, health is wealth. My advice is for people to always take advantage of medical outreaches like this because they are easily accessible," he said.

He praised the church for supporting government efforts in healthcare. He believes such actions help reduce health issues that could lead to serious problems like stroke.

Adeboye Oludayo, the Chairman of the Abayomi Community Development Association, praised the RCCG parish for keeping up the annual outreach. He said that residents have expressed their gratitude for this initiative.

He encouraged other religious groups to follow this example and urged the Federal Government to improve healthcare across Nigeria.

"The community residents have been commending the effort, and it has gone a long way in identifying health issues that could lead to serious ailments. The drugs given here have also helped many people, and they give glory to God," Oludayo said.

One beneficiary, Abiola Ekunola, said the free medications would help reduce her healthcare costs. She also noted that the health education she received stopped her from self-medicating.

Another beneficiary, Oluwagbeminiyi Odumeru, said the outreach was a relief with the rising costs of healthcare and medications.

"I thank them for this opportunity. Because if we had gone to the hospital or pharmacy to get all these drugs, it would have cost us a lot of money. But we thank God that they have done their own corporate social responsibility to us in the community," he said.

PUNCH Metro learned that over the past 12 years, around 10,000 people from different backgrounds have benefited from the annual medical outreach.