By Angela Atabo
Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN), Abuja Chapter, has carried out a comprehensive free medical outreach in Sauka Community on the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory, providing critical healthcare services to hundreds of vulnerable residents.
SWAN, an affiliate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), held the outreach, as part of its corporate social responsibility initiative and in the spirit of Valentine, on Saturday in Abuja.
The outreach provided free malaria testing, prostate screening (PSA), breast cancer screening, blood pressure and blood sugar checks, oxygen level tests, eye examinations, and distribution of medicated glasses among others to residents.
The Chairperson of SWAN Abuja Chapter, Chinwe Ofili-Ikpeazu, said the initiative was designed to bridge the healthcare gap for underserved communities.
“The essence of this outreach is just for us to bring medical access to the less privileged and to people who cannot afford basic healthcare.
“We went around the communities, we went to Karu, we went to Gwagwalada and we decided to choose Sauka.
“This is because we analysed their needs and found out that they needed it more urgently because they have a lot of aged persons here and people who have so many ailments.
“So that is why we are here today at Sauka Community, bringing free medical outreach to the vulnerable and the less privileged of the community,” she said.
Ofili-Ikpeazu stated that Sauka lacked critical infrastructure, including a standard health facility and potable water, adding that poor road conditions and environmental challenges further complicate access to healthcare.
She said that communities outside the metropolis needed more attention adding that government should pay closer attention to the less privileged and ensure that development gets to the suburbs.
Ofili-Ikpeazu, “The road to this place is not even good to start with. The dust here is nothing to write home about and they have no good medical facility here, no potable water.”
She encouraged the general public to please lend a helping hand to those around them, saying God would keep blessing them.
In her remarks, the Vice Chairperson of the Abuja Chapter, Dr Mariam Mohammed, explained that taking healthcare directly to rural communities encourages greater participation, especially when services are offered free of charge.
She said, “Not everyone has the means to visit hospitals regularly. When you bring healthcare to their doorsteps and make it free, they come out.
“We have doctors and consultants here to interpret test results and prescribe medications, and everything is dispensed at no cost.
“I think the government should also do this. Government should also reach to the less privileged to ensure that they have good health in the country.
“It is not only about a few doing it. I know may be the government is doing it, but I think they should increase it to a very high level.”
Also speaking, the Chairperson of the Health Committee, Flora Ojeme, highlighted the absence of a primary healthcare centre in Sauka as a major concern, hence the need for the outreach.
Ojeme added that the outreach featured a fully stocked pharmacy where prescribed medications were dispensed free of charge in partnership with three collaborators.
She added, “The things the community lacks, number one is a primary health centre. Every community should have a primary health centre to take care of the health needs of that community.
“So, that is the number one basic amenity that they need.
“Then the environment also, they need proper waste disposal, because when you are coming here, you see a lot of dirt and these things can make them prone to mosquito bites, cholera, and even this issue of Lassa fever, then even snakes.”
Speaking on behalf of one of the partners, Sales and Relationship Officer at AccessCare, Olubusayo Faluyi, said the collaboration aligned with the organisation’s vision of making healthcare accessible to everyone, regardless of location.
“Our goal is to remove barriers such as hospital queues and limited access to doctors. We are here to support this community-first initiative and ensure residents prioritise their health,” she said.
Some of the beneficiaries of the outreach expressed appreciation to SWAN for the health intervention describing it as impactful and timely urging the government and well-meaning Nigerians to always reach out to the vulnerable communities.
Mr Daniel Mino said, “I appreciate it 100 per cent. I just want to say to the organisers, thumbs up.
“Keep it up. Women are doing big things in the society today. We just appreciate them.
“We just pray that they have more sponsors and more collaborators so that they can touch and reach other communities that need this outreach.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani
