Segun Ayinde, Abeokuta
Residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, in their hundreds, on Monday, stormed the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Amphitheatre Centre for the annual world 2023 Diabetes Day free medical outreach programme.
The exercise, which was part of this year’s celebration witnessed a large congregation of the young and old people particularly those suffering from various degree of eye problems and diabetes.
As early as 6.00am, it was gathered that the people had been arriving the venue for the event organised by the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation and coordinated by Dr Olalekan Makinde.
Among the early callers were a group of people with hearing challenges numbering about six, and all with eye problems were spotted eagerly waiting for attention.
Speaking on the free eye and Diabetics service for the year, Dr. Makinde said about 400 had been registered before
11.00am and about 200 registered online.
He said those identified to be due for eye cataract surgery will be shortlisted, while those that needed only medication would be given.
“As at 11.00am this morning, about 400 had been registered personally and about 200 registered to be here online. As much as possible we are going to attend to them, either for the eye screening or diabetes test.
“By tomorrow, we are still going to continue the exercise and our visiting professionals are capable to ensure that we all go back to our respective homes far better than we had come,” Makinde said.
He added that for Diabetics screening and assessment, patients would also be made to undergo tests and attended to accordingly.
Makinde hinted that a seminar for Diabetics patients and a squash competition would also take place as parts of the 2023 celebrations during the week.