By Izunna Okafor, Awka
No fewer than 5,000 residents of Sumaila Local Government Area of Kano State have benefitted from a two-day community medical outreach organized by 24Telemed, in collaboration with the Oweno Foundation.
The outreach, which took place across 16 communities within the LGA, not only provided residents with free medical tests and consultation but also marked another milestone in the digital healthcare space, with the successful deployment of four new telemedicine hubs powered by solar technology.
Reports have it that before the commencement of the outreach, the medical team comprising doctors, nurses, and volunteers had paid a courtesy visit to the palace of the Galadima Ndaji, Hakima Sumaila, Hajiya Amino Abdulahi Nasidi, who heartily received them and lauded the initiative as a timely and much-needed intervention for the communities. The community leader also expressed gratitude to the organizers for prioritizing the health and wellbeing of the people, many of whom, it was gathered, go about their daily activities unaware of their health status.
The outreach featured over 15 categories of free health screenings, including blood pressure checks, blood sugar tests, eye checks, temperature monitoring, prostate assessments, and general health consultations. Ailing residents were also attended to by medical professionals who prescribed medications and referred serious cases to nearby hospitals for further treatment.
In furtherance of their mission to decentralize access to quality healthcare, the team from 24Telemed established four fully functional telemedicine hubs within the communities and immediately installed solar-powered street lights to illuminate the newly-established health points. The deployment follows a similar feat recorded by the organization last month, when two other hubs were set up in Gabasawa Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking on the significance and success of the outreach, the Co-founder of 24Telemed, Dr. Marriete Obianozie-Amadi, described the mission as a groundbreaking achievement in the journey toward accessible and equitable healthcare. She noted that the initiative had not only surpassed its original targets but had also made a significant impact on underserved populations who previously faced limitations in accessing medical care.
According to her, the team’s unwavering dedication and willingness to embrace technological innovations were the driving forces behind the success of the outreach.
“The success of the recent community outreach and telemedicine deployment is something to be celebrated. This initiative aimed to expand access to quality care and improve patient outcomes, and the goals were exceeded.
“Underserved populations who faced barriers to in-person care were reached, providing convenient and timely access to medical professionals. The dedication and hard work of the team were directly responsible for this achievement,” she said.
A highpoint of the mission was the symbolic health check of the traditional ruler, Galadima Ndaji, and the demonstration of the telemedicine setup before members of the community.
24Telemed, a fast-rising player in Nigeria’s digital healthcare space, has continued to expand its footprint across states and local government areas, offering virtual access to healthcare professionals and services, and driving community health impact to the last mile, especially in remote communities with limited physical health infrastructure.
