Posted by By JUMOBI ADEGBITE on
Over 3,000 persons have so far been treated for different ailments in surgeries performed by 40 visiting Nigerian and foreign doctors from America who are offering free medical services to Nigerians in Lagos State.
Over 3,000 persons have so far been treated for different ailments in surgeries performed by 40 visiting Nigerian and foreign doctors from America who are offering free medical services to Nigerians in Lagos State.
The team is in Nigeria on the invitation of the Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who firmed up the arrangement while on a recent visit to the United State of America.
Insisting that the government can turn the loss of highly skilled Nigerian professionals who left the country for better jobs abroad into a blessing for national development, the governor explained that the skills, experience and contacts acquired abroad was being positively utilised for the good of the country.
He made the assertion while on an inspection visit to the General and Island Hospitals in Lagos where the team attended to people. According to him, "this is a worthwhile and laudable initiative. These are patriotic and highly skilled Nigerian medical personnel practising in the United States and have now come back home with their skills, drugs, equipment and even some of their American colleagues to offer free medical services to the poor.
While saying that the visit would also afford the administration an opportunity to see the present state of equipment in use in the United States, he added that Nigerian doctors would also share the experience with the visiting doctors, thereby enhancing the quality of service being rendered.
The team leader, Dr Nurudeen Olowopopo, on his own explained that the effort, which began two years ago, was designed to give necessary assistance to the state government and Nigerians generally.
He stated that such volunteer services are common in the U.S., promising that the visit will allow Nigerian doctors an opportunity to share their experience with those not resident in Nigeria.
The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu who observed that many lives have been lost to the use of fake and adulterated drugs in his own address at the occasion advised people to avoid self medication and seek proper medical advice. He urged the visiting team to consider extending the period of its services during its next visit.