Foundation putting smiles on faces of less privileged
With Joke Adeniyi-Jackson
For Jimoh Moruf, who felt he would be condemned to life without sight, succour came his way as a non profitable organisation, Bayalas Health Care Foundation, came to his rescue thus putting an end to six-year suffering from retina cataract. To save himself from living in darkness for the rest of his life, Moruf was reduced to a pauper having sold his personal belongings to procure cure to no avail until he came in contact with the Non Governmental Organisation (NGO). His joy knew no bound upon success of the eye surgery, just as he showered blessings on the sponsor of the free eye treatment he benefitted. Similarly, Ibrahim Nurudeen from Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State had lost hope of regaining his sight but he received his miracle through Bayalas Fiundation following surgical removal of the cataract that threatened his eyes for three years. Other touching tales of beneficiaries whose eye challenge burdens have been resolved by the NGO abound.
Like the saying that compassion is a flower that grows in the garden of a few, Dr. Abubakar Idowu Sanni, Executive Director, Bayalas Health Care Foundation, has overtime shown that he would rather shun personal pursuit of epicurean lifestyle for acts of selflessness to the less privileged. Through his non profitable organisation he has been touching and transforming lives; putting smiles on the faces of people who were hitherto saddened by their conditions.
This the Ilorin-born physician displayed when he sold his landed property and car in order to fulfil his philanthropic endeavour to humanity.
Sanni has been taking practical steps towards helping people with visual challenge through his free health care, which he has been bankrolling for about seven years now. Through this charity work, no fewer than 5,000 people have benefitted from his free eye treatment in Kwara State and beyond. He is still reaching out to hundreds of people through the weekly health programme aimed at saving people’s sight. Bayalas, as he is fondly called, did all these not as sure path to popularity but as support and service to humanity. Sanni has however, garnered popularity among people for selfless acts of service and genuine interest to ensure wellbeing of the less privileged in the society. His love for the down trodden and charitable disposition, made him invest his resources to helping countless people in need of eye care service.
The Malaysia trained opthalmologist , with his magical fingers has been able to restore sight to the blind through surgical operations on victims of cataracts. This medical expedition has taken him to Abuja; Iwo, Osun State; Iseyin, Oyo State, Ilorin, Kwara State and Senegal among others. The healthcare programmes were carried out at the Dantata mosque, Abuja, the Oluwo of Iwo palace, Aseyin of iseyin palace, Emir of Ilorin palace and Sheikh Ibrahim Niass city , Kaolack, Senegal.
However, his philanthropic spirit is presently dampened as a result of inadequate resources to cater for the large number of people in need of free health care, who approach him on daily basis for assistance. Efforts to get sponsors for the programme has continued to hit brick wall, which has been his major concern lately. This challenge has stalled the weekly Tuesday medical outreach.
In his words: “We’ve been praying to God for sponsors, people are indoors suffering because they have no financial means to go to the hospital. I see it as a duty to help people with this disease (cataracts); this is why I committed all my resources into it. ”
This problem has affected cataracts patients like Ajoke Balogun whose hope of getting reprieve has been dashed owing to the financial problem confronting the foundation. Several visits to the venue of the health care programme has not yielded result for the lady who has lost her right eye to cataracts. Hence, the founder of the foundation is soliciting assistance from well spirited individuals, government and corporate bodies to support him in his course. It is hope that the present administration in Kwara State will support private individuals who are complementing it in one way or the other especially in the area of health. As it is believed health is wealth and only a healthy citizenry can contribute to the growth and development of the state. There is a need for more people to invest in the health sector as government cannot do it alone.
In addition, wealthy individuals in the society should cultivate the habit of giving back to the gesture. They should emulate the good charity works by the Kwara-born philanthropist.