By Abiodun Lawal
Ogun governor’s wife, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, on Tuesday inaugurated a colposcope machine at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, to strengthen cervical cancer detection and treatment.
Abiodun also facilitated more than 300 free surgeries for indigent patients as part of efforts to improve access to quality healthcare in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the surgeries were carried out by a medical team from Philadelphia in collaboration with the Ajose Foundation, founded by the governor’s wife.
Speaking at the inauguration, Abiodun said the colposcope would enhance early detection of cervical cancer, thereby improving treatment outcomes.
She urged women to pay close attention to changes in their bodies and seek prompt medical attention whenever they notice abnormal symptoms.
The governor’s wife also emphasised the importance of routine medical screening, saying regular health checks remain crucial for early detection and treatment of diseases.
On the medical outreach, she said no fewer than 300 people registered for the programme, with surgeries conducted simultaneously in nine operating theatres to ensure safe, timely and quality care.
According to her, the initiative was designed mainly for indigent residents who could not afford surgical treatment.
Abiodun said supporting vulnerable people required compassion rather than wealth, noting that simple acts of kindness could transform lives.
She added that many illnesses were preventable through public awareness, early diagnosis and timely medical intervention, calling for greater health education in communities.
Speaking on behalf of the visiting medical team, Dr Bimpe Adenusi, an Anaesthesia provider, stressed the importance of early cervical cancer screening in reducing preventable deaths.
Adenusi said affordable preliminary screening could detect abnormal cells early, allowing timely biopsy, laboratory analysis, and treatment before the disease progressed.
She said the initiative reflected Mrs Abiodun’s prevention-focused approach to healthcare, noting that prevention was cheaper and more effective than treating advanced diseases.
According to her, the outreach offers free procedures, including thyroidectomy, breast lump removal, hernia repair and myomectomy, with about 15 fibroid surgeries scheduled.
She disclosed that 26 surgeries, including six thyroid procedures, had been successfully carried out on the first day of the medical mission.
Adenusi attributed the success of the programme to the support of the Ogun State Government, donors and development partners.
She added that the outreach had expanded this year with the inclusion of orthopaedic specialists, who performed corrective surgeries for children with bow legs and other deformities.
She revealed that a five-year-old child underwent successful corrective surgery on both legs, describing the procedure as life-changing.
Adenusi reaffirmed the organisers’ commitment to expanding access to quality healthcare and providing life-saving services to vulnerable residents at no cost.
Earlier, the Chief Medical Director of OOUTH, Dr Olubunmi Fatungase, commended Mrs Abiodun and the Philadelphia medical team for the intervention, describing it as a major contribution to healthcare delivery in Ogun. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Yetunde Fatungase