The need for routine medical check-up and maintenance of a healthy lifestyle was the thrust of a health talk delivered by a consultant Obstetrician/Gynaecologist at the Covenant University Medical Centre, Dr Adebayo Sekumade, during a medical outreach in commemoration of the 63rd birthday of the Vice-President, Education, Living Faith Church Worldwide, Pastor (Mrs) Faith Oyedepo.
Dr Sekumade urged residents of Egan Road, in Iyana-Iyesi, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, to make it an annual exercise of knowing the basic state of their health, from blood sugar level to blood pressure, towards stemming the tide of untimely deaths.
He counselled participants and beneficiaries of the free medical outreach to endeavour to introduce their young ones to good daily practice and healthy lifestyle, noting that hospitals are not just for curing, but also for preventing diseases.
"From cradle to adulthood; immunization to eating healthy, it has become vital that we develop a blend of good rest, nutrition and regular medical examination to ensure that our state of health, healing and wholeness is sustained," he added.
The Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer, ACE Medicare, Dr. Oluwole Kukoyi, appreciated Covenant University for inviting them to partner in delivering healthcare to community members, noting that ACE Medicare was always excited about giving back to the society.
Dr Kukoyi, represented by the Head, Laboratory, ACE Medicare, Mr Daniel Izunwanne, said that early detection was fundamental to preserving health and driving away diseases. He said there was the need to undergo a regular medical examination, make it a habit of taking adequate water, and engage in appropriate exercise to keep well.
Pastor Oluwole Coker, the Provincial Pastor of the Living Faith Church, appreciated God for making the year unfold in a grand style for community members, with the hope of a turnaround in health for all present. He thanked the Esteemed Regent of Covenant University, Pastor (Mrs) Oyedepo, for making the community a beneficiary of the community healthcare largesse.
Pastor Coker posited that information was power; the health talk would create appropriate awareness that would surely get the people to pay attention to the importance of knowing the true state of their health status, irrespective of available resources or none. "Health is wealth, but we also know now that wealth is not health," he stated.
In her welcome remarks, the Chair, Covenant University Community Development Impact Initiative Committee (CU-CDIIC), Dr. Tayo George, said the CDIIC had similar objective as Goal 3 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - good health and wellbeing. She explained that the aim was to help and get healthcare to those in the Universities' surrounding communities.
Dr. George noted that the lack of good health would impede normal activities, and it was necessary for all to be mindful of their wellbeing, which informed the need to put medical outreach in place. "It was to touch the lives of residents of Egan Road, Iyana-Iyesi, Ota, so that, as a people, we all can contribute to the building of the nation we desire," she stated.
While declaring the event open, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abiodun H. Adebayo, said the life of Pastor (Mrs) Faith Oyedepo had been one of impact, and the medical outreach to the community was geared at impacting more lives in the community.
Professor Adebayo, represented by the Director, Vice-Chancellor's Office, Dr. Omotayo Osibanjo, said Covenant University recognized her position as a major stakeholder in the quest for community development in Ota and Nigeria at large. He added that social responsibilities were a vital aspect of the University that would never be taken for granted.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that over the years, the CDIIC had been instrumental in reaching out to the University's host community through initiatives such as entrepreneurship education, rural electrification scheme, provision of potable water, equipping and renovation of schools laboratories, and medical outreaches.
Professor Adebayo said Covenant, through the CDIIC, had been providing diverse and vital healthcare interventions. He stated that the medical outreach in commemoration of the 63rd birthday of Pastor Faith Oyedepo was in furtherance of the University's community development scheme in line with the United Nation's SDG 3 of ensuring healthy lives and promoting wellbeing for all at all ages.