Scores of market women and men at Ipata market, Ilorin on Saturday benefitted free healthcare service and drugs worth N600, 000 courtesy of the Third Estate Ilorin Emirate.
As early as 8am the market dwellers turned up at the yam seller spot for the programme tagged; ‘One day free health care programme’.
Speaking with newsmen, the President, Third Estate Ilorin Emirate, Mallam Ahmed Bolaji Nagode, said the group is made up of accomplished professionals who are desirous of developing the Ilorin Emirate.
“This health care programme is part of our own ways of contributing to the development of Ilorin Emirate and by extension Kwara State.
“It is also an avenue to support the state government and bring healthcare delivery to the doorstep of the populace.
“We have always been targeting markets because we believe our market men and women hardly have the time to go for medical checkup and the programme will also afford those who have come to the market for shopping the opportunity to know their health status.
“We want the free health care service to go round our people. You will recollect, last year, it was held at the Mandate market which was in Ilorin West Local Government Area of the state but this year we opted for Ipata market which is in Ilorin East Local Government Area.
Nagode said based on the impressive turnout; the group may consider staging the programme simultaneously in two or more centres in subsequent years.
The President who divulged that over half a million naira was expended on drugs however urged other groups in the society to contribute their quota to the development of the state.
Speaking further, he said the Third Estate Ilorin Emirate is already training some youths drawn from the five local governments that make up the Emirate, on ICT for free in order to reduce unemployment in the society and to make them self-reliant.
“We also give scholarship to indigent students and one of them will be graduating from the University of Ilorin. We are happy with the fact that one of the beneficiaries is making the most of the opportunity as he is likely to graduate with a First Class,” he said.
On his part, the Medical Consultant of the programme, Dr Ibrahim Abdulkareem Gambari named malaria, hypertension and diabetes as the prevalent ailment among the market dwellers.
Gambari, who is the Medical Director of Khadijat Memorial Hospital, however urged the traders to always visit hospital of their choice for regular checkup. This, according to him, will allow them discover any ailment on time.
Speaking, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs Asabi Adenuga, appreciated the sponsors for the gesture saying the society will be a better place if every group can emulate Third Estate Ilorin Emirate.
