A team of medical personnel from the US Virgin Islands has visited Nigeria for a two-day programme in which customers of Ikeja Electric enjoyed free medical treatments.
In the medical outreach, which targeted diabetes, malaria, and typhoid among other illnesses, about 250 customers in Oshodi and Akowonjo business areas enjoyed consultation, tests and free medications.
The leader of the medical mission, Dr. Olajide Olawepo, a Nigerian physician from the Virgin Islands’ St. Croix, said the lack of resources made the country a difficult place of doctors to operate.
According to him, the collaboration between the US medical mission, Ikeja Electric and XT Monitor, which made the visit of his team possible, was an example of the public-private partnership that could improve the country’s health sector.
Olawepo said, “Nigerians rarely go for medical checks until they have broken down, whereas, one should normally do it once a year. This is a way of helping the people achieve this.
“This trip was planned one year ago but the hurricanes stalled our plans. But despite the fact that two hurricanes devastated our hospital, we believed a lot more people here need our help.”
The Managing Director of XT Monitor, Mr. Kayode Adeoti, said the collaboration was a corporate social responsibility meant to lift the burden of medical treatment off customers of Ikeja Electric.
“Only a healthy customer enjoys power or even pay for it. This is Ikeja Electric’s way of giving back to the society,” he said.