An indigenous Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO), Taiwo Muatapha Foundation on Monday (25th of December, 2017) donated a set of Glucometers and strips worth thousands of naira to patients suffering from diabetes at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) and other selected health centers.
The beneficiaries were also presented with some beverages, and other items as well as an undisclosed amount of money from the foundation.
The Founder of the Foundation, Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha and his entourage commenced the distribution of the items from Oke Ola Oro, Health Center, in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara state.
In an interview with Journalists at the end of the distribution, the founder of the foundation, Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha explained that the gesture was hinged on the need to put a smile on the faces the less privilege especially those that are undergoing trying periods of various degrees.
He said the idea of distributing the items on the Christmas Day was deliberate, saying that it was arranged to identify with the sick people and to show love to them at their various hospital sick beds”.
According to him, ” I specifically selected Christmas day for my hospital visits because I strongly believe that sitting in my house and enjoying myself is not what the Christmas all about.
“On a day like this, God wants us to associate with the sick and the poor by visiting them on their sick beds, and even supporting them with whatever we have”.
Alhaji Mustapha added that ” not necessarily that you give them financial support if u don’t have, but let them realise that you are feeling their pains and agony”.
He advised the beneficiaries to always make use of the machines given to them for the purpose they are donated and to make use of that medical advice given by the medical experts.
Alhaji Taiwo noted further that 50 to 60 percent of the sick are caused by the people’s eating habit, poor hygiene, stress, pollutions among other factors.
He urged the people to always guide against those practices that could cause sickness or injurious to health.
Mustapha said, “it gives me pleasure and joy any time that I discovered that I am giving support to the sick and the poor in the society “.
The founder also mentioned that the foundation is known for creating jobs for the teeming unemployed youth, giving support to the sick, and supporting the education of the brilliant, but financially poor students in the society.
In her comment, a Nigerian born but United State of America based health Consultant, Atinuke Mustapha Abdusalam expressed displeasure over the poor condition of the Nigerian hospitals.
Atinuke in an exclusive interview with Journalists at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) appealed to the Nigerian government to take the health of the people very serious by ensuring that everyone has access to quality health services at affordable prices.
The USA based health consultant told the government to make diabetic treatment, Cancer treatment and other diseases free of charge for patients so that the people can have access to better health delivery service.
She appealed to the government to also ensure proper hygiene and quality health services at the various health institutions across the country to guarantee a better living.
Abdulsalam also called for proper education and advocacy on how to guide against diabetes, its control, and management to reduce it to the barest minimum in the society.
The Consultant attributed the high rate of the cases of diabetes and related diseases to lack of information on diabetes control and management, social problems, socio-economy problem, and poverty.
“Many people suffer from diabetes because they eat what they can afford without considering adequate balanced diets and they also lack access to genuine drugs while some also are ignorant of what diabetes is all about,” she said
Atinuke Mustapha Abdulsalam, however, appealed to people of the country to discourage stigmatization against diabetics patients.
She observed that “stigmatization is very common among the people of Africa. Whenever they discovered that some body is suffering from one particular disease or ailment, they completely isolated themselves from such person and this attitude is bad. We need to show love, care, and affection to the sick people in the society, and to always give them some words of encouragement.
“Many sick people in our society today died untimely just because they experienced stigmatization. There is the need for government and the relevant stakeholders to take up serious campaign against stigmatization “.
Responding to the gesture on behalf of the management and the beneficiaries of the Taiwo Mustapha Foundation aid, Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) Mrs. Alade Jobi thanked the foundation for demonstrating love and extending hands of fellowship to the sick people at the UITH.
The CNO observed that many people have shown less concerned to the state of their health because of their level of poverty.
According to her ” we the staff in the hospital usually support many patients who are having financial constraints and need treatment in the hospital ”
She called on well-meaning Nigerians and corporate organisations to always consider giving support for the sick so as to collectively put smiles on the faces of the needy.
The Chief Nursing Officer also appealed to the foundation to sustain its support for the people so that more people would benefit from its kind gesture in the future.
