By Atinuke Alao
Advocates for Orphaned Children (AOC) has rounded off its two-day free medical screening for orphans in Kwara State with no fewer than 339 people benefitting.
The free screening, in partnership with the state government, focused on HIV&AIDS and Hepatitis and held between Friday and Saturday (today) at City of Refuge, Pipeline Area; Islamic Orphanage Home at Adewole and Takasko Life Care initiative at Asa-Adam, all in Ilorin, the state capital.
While 239 people were screened on Friday including the caregivers in the orphanage homes, a total of 100 people benefitted from the free screening on Saturday.
In his remarks during the exercise, Founder and Executive Director of Advocates for Orphaned Children (AOC), Dr Babalola Tobi Emmanuel, described the event as a statement that every child matters and deserves good health, and an opportunity to thrive.
He explained that the free health screening initiative was not created to replace the efforts of the government but a way of the group supporting the work of the state government in promoting child welfare, improving healthcare access, advancing education, and protecting vulnerable children.
Babalola pointed out that true development happens when the government and the people work together with one vision, adding that a successful community is not built by the masses alone.
The AOC founder called on young people to jettison criticism and become contributors to the development of the society.
Babalola expressed gratitude to the state government for creating an enabling environment for his group to contribute meaningfully to the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children.
Speaking at the event, the Desk Officer of Kwara Viral Hepatitis ‘B’, Hajia Alaya Gbemisola Bilqees, said the state government has initiated different measures to prevent the spread of viral Hepatitis in the state.
Hajia Alaya said some health facilities have been equipped to offer prophylaxis to pregnant woman that tested positive to viral Hepatitis from third trimester till the delivery of the baby.
She explained that it was part of the safety measures to prevent mother from having a child that tested positive to Hepatitis ‘B’.
The expert, who warned against the danger associated with the viral infection, said it could dwell within the body system of a potential victim, especially an adult for more than two decades without any symptoms.
She noted that sizeable number of children are susceptible to the virus, resulting in the diseases she listed as liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Also in her remarks, the state Commissioner for Social Development, Dr Mariam Nnafatima Imam, identified education and good health as fundamental pillars of a child’s development, declaring that the free screening demonstrates a commendable commitment to addressing both.
Imam, who spoke through the Director of Social Welfare in her ministry, Alhaji Amusat Oladimeji Fatai, added that children deserve the opportunity to learn, grow and live a healthy and fulfilling life, irrespective of their background or circumstances.
She, however, applauded the organizers and partners for bringing educational assessment and essential health services closer to children who need them.
The commissioner said the initiative would contribute meaningfully to building healthier, better-prepared and more confident children through identification of their learning needs and promotion of early detection of health challenges.
