Emmanuel kehinde,Ilorin
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Wednesday offers free surgical interventions to 14 patients, and donated cash to indigent patient admitted at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH).
The intervention and humanitarian gesture are part of the activities for the 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM) tagged: “The Emirate Experience.”
Speaking on the sidelines of the surgical intervention, Dr Emeka Orji, the National President of NARD stated that the association is reknown for yearly free medical outreach and intervention for the indigent across every state in Nigeria.
He explained that the purpose of the outreach, is to reach out to indigent who are in need of medical intervention or have any health challenges.
He also explained this is part of the social responsibility of the association in giving back to Nigerians.
Orji submitted that NARD should not be associated with strike actions, adding that they have always been at the forefront of identifying with the indigent by reaching out to them through free medical outreaches and intervention.
He said some admitted patient in UITH also received cash donations, to be able to cater for their needs.
Also speaking, Dr Remi Solagbade, of the Department of Surgery, UITH and coordinator of the outreach explained that the 14 beneficiaries have various surgical condition.
The expert added some of these conditions includes Hernia, glaucoma and other surgical needs, adding that some in-patient at the Emergency and Accident unit were also given some cash to assist them in their recovery stage.
In his reaction, Prof Bilyaminu Sikiru, the Acting Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) of the UITH, commended the association for the laudable and humanitarian gesture.
He noted that what the doctors where doing is fantastic in reaching out to indigent members of the society, and treating them for free.
Responding, Mr Joshua Durojaiye, a beneficiary of the outreach, applauded the doctors for the life saving intervention.
“These doctors attended to us very well, there was no hassle. And I appeal to them to continue and widen the scope of this kind of humanitarian programmes they are doing,” he said.
Also sidelines of the activities includes visitation and donation of food stuffs and medical consumables to School for the Special Needs in Ilorin.
