Over 300 Lagos residents get free health screening, treatment and LASHMA enrolment

• Nearly 400 residents benefited from free medical screening, treatment and medicines in Somolu, Lagos.

• Beneficiaries were screened for hypertension, diabetes, malaria, cholesterol and prostate cancer, alongside mental health counselling.

• Residents were also enrolled into the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) health insurance scheme.

• Organisers urged beneficiaries to continue hospital follow-up care, stressing that "Health is a basic human right for everyone, but prevention is better than cure."

For many Nigerians, going to the hospital now feels like a luxury because of the rising cost of healthcare. But for nearly 400 residents in Somolu, Lagos, getting checked by a doctor, collecting medicines and even signing up for health insurance came at no cost.

The beneficiaries took part in a two-day free medical outreach organised by the General Hospital, Somolu, alongside government agencies and healthcare charities.

The outreach, which was first held at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, later moved to General Hospital, Somolu, where residents turned out to receive different medical services without paying a kobo.

During the exercise, doctors screened residents for common health conditions including hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, malaria and prostate cancer. Mental health screening and counselling were also provided, while patients who needed medication received it free of charge.

Another major part of the outreach was helping eligible residents enrol in the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) health insurance scheme, giving them an opportunity to access healthcare beyond the outreach.

The initiative was carried out through a partnership involving the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Global Health Charity and Training Foundation, National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, DBA Comprehensive Health Charity and Capacity Health Foundation.

Speaking during the event on behalf of the Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer of General Hospital, Somolu, Adesina Ayodele, the Deputy Medical Director, Nathaniel Oja, described the programme as an important intervention because of the wide range of free healthcare services made available to residents.

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Ayodele, whose remarks were delivered by Oja, appreciated all the organisations that supported and funded the outreach, as well as the doctors, nurses and volunteers who made it successful.

“Health is a basic human right for everyone, but prevention is better than cure,” he said.

He also advised beneficiaries not to see the outreach as a replacement for proper medical care. According to him, patients diagnosed with conditions requiring further treatment should return to the hospital for follow-up care.

Ayodele assured residents that the hospital would continue to provide additional treatment within the capacity of the facility.

The lead partner, Adebayo Akintobi of the Global Health Charity and Training Foundation, also encouraged beneficiaries to make the most of the opportunity by speaking openly with doctors about any health concerns.

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He urged residents not to leave without fully understanding the outcome of their medical tests or asking questions where necessary.

Akintobi also expressed hope that the partnership with General Hospital, Somolu, would continue as part of efforts to improve access to quality healthcare across Lagos.

Beyond treating people who were already feeling sick, the outreach focused on detecting illnesses early before they become more serious. Medical experts have consistently said that conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes often show little or no symptoms in their early stages, making regular screening an important step in preventing life-threatening complications.

For many of the residents who attended, the programme offered something increasingly difficult to find in today's economy, access to quality healthcare without worrying about the cost.