By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Founder of a Non-Governmental Organisation, Hydra Edge Foundation, HEF, Mrs. Abiodun Opeifa, wife of Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation,  Kayode Opeifa, has offered free medical screening for widows and the aged residents of Agege in Orile-Agege Local Council Development Area, LCDA.

The NGO which recently, also distributed mosquito nets for patients in Orile-Agege General Hospitals, however, urged over 300 women in the community to undergo breast and cervical cancer screening regularly in their own interest.

Addressing hundreds of beneficiaries of the free health screening, Opeifa, who noted that the organisation was poised to make life better for the downtrodden and the neglected ones in the society, said apart from supporting the widows, the NGO was equally interested in the health of the downtrodden in the society.

According to her, most women die of preventable diseases because they lack the wherewithal to undergo health screening to enable them to detect their health challenges early enough, saying that the beneficiaries would also be advised accordingly after the screening.

She said:”The medical screening for the elderly people in the community. The screening is to diagnose the beneficiaries and advise them on what they are supposed to eat and what they are supposed to abstain from. The screening machine will detect anything that is abnormal in their body system. The secreening will also tell whether their cholesterol is high or low. Their sugar intake will also be examined. They will be advised on the kind of medication they need should they found out they need any.

“It will be a regular thing. We started last year. It is a way of telling people out there that we are human being, cancer is real, once they detect some of these diseases early, it would help them in finding a lasting solution. The 1,000 mosquito nets were distributed in collaboration with Rotary Club of Agege. “

Several other programmes had also been held in different parts of the state  by the NGO.

Speaking with Vanguard, one of the beneficiaries, Chief Shakirudeen Adelani, commended the NGO for the initiative, urging more NGOs to embark on peoples-oriented project to assist less privileged society.

While also appreciating the kind gesture, another beneficiary, Mrs. Shobodu Kayode stated:  ”In this laudable initiative, we have been able to know some of the practices that are unsafe for our health. I used to take soft drink every night after my dinner. But the medical expert has just told me that it is dangerous to my health especially at the age 68″.