By Kingsley Adegboye

In a show of compassion and community service, the Rotary Club of Ikeja GRA, in collaboration with the Rotaract Club of Ikeja GRA, has donated some crutches to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, to support patients in need of mobility aids.

The outreach, which took place at the hospital premises in Lagos, was described by both clubs as a response to the growing hardship faced by patients who can no longer afford basic medical support materials.

Speaking during the presentation, the President of Rotary Club of Ikeja GRA, Rotarian Abigail Akano, said the initiative was borne out of the club’s commitment to humanitarian service and sensitivity to the economic realities confronting many Nigerians.

“We donated some crutches to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos State. This was a collaboration project between our club and the Rotaract Club of Ikeja GRA. We felt it was important to come together to carry out this outreach because of the needs we identified,” she said.

Akano explained that the decision to donate crutches was deliberate, noting that many patients at the orthopaedic hospital struggle daily with mobility challenges.

“Things are very expensive now. Some patients cannot afford crutches. We were told that some are managing very old and worn-out ones. That is not ideal for people who are trying to recover. We felt this was one small way we could ease their burden,” she added.

Also speaking is the President of the Rotaract Club of Ikeja GRA, RTR. Adetoro Adeyemi, said the collaboration reflected the strong bond between Rotary and Rotaract in addressing community needs.
“This project shows what we can achieve when we work together. Rotary and Rotaract share the same vision of service above self. When we considered different outreach options, we realised that mobility is very important for patients recovering from injuries or surgeries. Without proper support, recovery becomes more difficult,” the Rotaract President said.

She noted that special attention was given to ensure the crutches catered for different age groups.
“We did not just bring random crutches. We ensured there were sizes suitable for children, middle-aged people and elderly patients. We understand that the hospital attends to people across various age brackets, and we wanted to be thoughtful in our approach,” she explained.

Representing Dr Wakeel Lawal, the Medical Director of the hospital, a senior member of the hospital management expressed appreciation to both clubs for the donation.

According to the representative, the hospital was grateful for the timely intervention, especially during a period when many patients are financially constrained.

“We sincerely thank the Rotary Club of Ikeja GRA and the Rotaract Club of Ikeja GRA for this thoughtful gesture. As you can see, these crutches come in different sizes, which shows careful consideration. Many times, donors bring only adult sizes, forgetting that we also have children who require mobility support,” the representative said.

She added that the donation would go a long way in assisting patients who cannot afford to purchase new crutches.

“Some of our patients are using very old and weak crutches because they cannot afford new ones. With the rising cost of medical supplies, this support is timely. We are truly grateful,” she said.

The hospital management also offered prayers for members of both clubs, expressing hope that their act of kindness would be rewarded.

The outreach had in attendance Rotarian Sandra Umukoro, who served as Project Chair, alongside other members of both the Rotary and Rotaract clubs, as well as members of the hospital’s management team.
The donation underscores Rotary’s long-standing tradition of humanitarian service and its continued efforts to respond to pressing needs within local communities.