Date: 2016-12-15

For two months, residents of Aran-Orin in Irepodun Local Government of Kwara State enjoyed free medical test, free treatment and were given treated mosquito nets and free drugs by Master students of department of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Ilorin, who were on a field posting experience to the community.

In addition, the students have also embarked on the construction of an incinerator in the community for the disposal and burning of refuse to prevent disease outbreak.

During a sensitisation programme on Friday, leader of the group, Dr Taiye Alao urged the people of Aran-Orin to regularly visit the health centre in the community for medical check-up to avoid hypertension and other ailments.

According to him, "For the two months that we have been here, we discovered hypertension and malaria are the predominant ailments among the people and I will enjoin you to visit the health centre regularly for check-up. You should also eat more of vegetable, fruits, cut grasses in your surroundings, keep your environment clean and to always exercise your body.

"We are providing you an incinerator to stop the indiscriminate dumping of refuse which could cause disease outbreak. We urge you to make good use of it and you must also make use of the treated mosquito nets that will be distributed to you," he said, adding that they must avoid self-medication.

Speaking, the HOD Health, Irepodun Local Government Area, Mrs Mary Afolayan who was ably represented by Mrs Felicia Oguntoye expressed appreciation to the group for the gesture and urged the people of the community to stop patronising quack doctors for treatment.

According to her, "Our health centre is better equipped now and our nurses have been well trained by our doctors from the University of Ilorin, I urge our people to visit the place regularly anytime they have heath challenge."

Oguntoye added that ever since the group chose Aran-Orin for their field posting experience, people of the community have benefitted from several health programmes from both government and Non-Governmental Organisations.

In his remarks, the Health Secretary of Aran-Orin, Elder John Adebayo corroborated Oguntoye and called on the state government to provide the community with a resident doctor.

At the palace of Alaran of Aran-Orin, the Esa, Chief John Kola Olawuyi who spoke on behalf of Oba Joseph Balalola thanked the team for their commitment and called for sustenance of the scheme.

"On behalf of the Alaran of Aran-Orin and the people of the community, I wish to express our appreciation to the group for their gesture and commitment for the two months they have been with us," the Esa stated.

In his remarks, a lecturer in the department of Epidemiology and Community Health who doubles as Academic Supervisor of the group, Dr Femi Oladiji thanked the community for their warm reception and pledged to make their requests known to the state government.

He informed our reporter that before settling for Aran-Orin and the projects to embark on, the students did surveillance on health facility, water, sanitation, housing, education and nutritional issues.