Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has expressed deep concern over the alarming rate of deaths caused by treatable diseases in Nigeria, attributing the problem to poverty and inadequate access to quality healthcare. He called for an overhaul of the primary healthcare system to address the high mortality rates, especially among the poor.
Speaking through his Senior Legislative Aide, Bunmi Oguntuase, in Ado Ekiti, Bamidele urged state governors to prioritize healthcare investments at the grassroots level. His remarks came during the conclusion of the second phase of his free medical outreach in Ekiti Central Senatorial District, which covered all five local government areas.
The outreach provided medical care to over 9,400 individuals in its second phase, adding to the 6,600 beneficiaries from the first phase. The programme, organized in partnership with the Industrial Arbitration Panel, offered treatments for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, hepatitis, hernia, and visual impairments. Free eyeglasses were also distributed to those with vision challenges.
Bamidele noted that many beneficiaries had lived with their ailments for years due to financial constraints but received treatment through the initiative. He added that those with chronic conditions requiring advanced care were referred to better-equipped hospitals, with his team ready to cover the costs. “This is part of our effort to provide the dividends of democracy to our people,” he said.
The Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, praised Bamidele for his life-changing gesture, describing the outreach as a significant contribution to the welfare of the people. The initiative highlighted the urgent need for improved healthcare infrastructure and funding in Nigeria to reduce preventable deaths.
