A senior medical officer at NIKZAR Medical Centre, Apata, Ibadan, Jefferson Jide Nwanoka, has called on Nigerians, particularly journalists, to make routine medical check-ups a priority, warning that delaying medical attention until illness becomes severe could endanger lives.
Nwanoka made the appeal on Tuesday during a free medical outreach organised by the Oyo State Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in collaboration with NIKZAR Medical Centre at the chapel’s secretariat in Mokola, Ibadan.
The outreach, held as part of the hospital’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, offered free medical screening, consultations and medications to about 50 journalists and residents of the surrounding community.
Speaking after the exercise, Nwanoka revealed that several participants were diagnosed with health conditions requiring immediate attention.
While some beneficiaries received medications on the spot, others were referred to hospitals for further evaluation and follow-up care.
According to him, hypertension accounted for the majority of the cases handled during the programme.
“The vast majority of the cases we attended to were hypertension-related. We prescribed medications for many of the participants, but we also counselled them that the drugs alone are not enough. They still need to visit the hospital for further investigations and proper follow-up,” he said.
The medical practitioner emphasised the importance of preventive healthcare, noting that routine medical examinations enable early detection and effective management of illnesses.
“As medical practitioners, we always say health is wealth. There is no way anyone can be productive without good health. Just as machines require regular servicing, the human body also needs routine care. People should not wait until they become seriously ill before seeking medical attention,” he added.
Nwanoka explained that the outreach fulfilled a commitment made by NIKZAR Medical Centre during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the Oyo Correspondents’ Chapel earlier in the year to support journalists through periodic healthcare interventions.
He commended the team of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and laboratory scientists who participated in the exercise, describing the programme as a successful demonstration of teamwork and professional dedication.
He added that the initiative also extended healthcare services to members of the host community, reaffirming the hospital’s commitment to bringing quality medical care closer to the people.
“This is the maiden edition of the programme, and we hope to sustain the partnership with the Correspondents’ Chapel. We are looking forward to taking similar outreach programmes to other communities so that more people can benefit,” he said.
The Chairman of the Oyo State Council of the NUJ, Akeem Abas, also attended the outreach.
Beneficiaries described the programme as timely and impactful.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Bridget Ayodele, said the initiative enabled her to undergo a comprehensive medical examination without any financial burden.
“The programme gave me the opportunity to have my medical check-up free of charge instead of paying for it myself as I normally would. I was also given free medication. I am sincerely grateful to the organisers and the management of NIKZAR Medical Centre for this thoughtful gesture,” she said.
Another participant, Mrs. Aina Abisoye, praised the organisers for not only providing free health screening but also supplying medications based on each participant’s diagnosis.
Similarly, Mrs. Bukola Ayida described the outreach as worthwhile, commending the professionalism, compassion and dedication displayed by the medical personnel throughout the exercise.
A former Acting Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, John Alabi, described the initiative as a welcome intervention, observing that journalists often neglect their health because of the demanding nature of their profession.
He said the outreach served as an important reminder that media professionals should pay greater attention to their wellbeing through regular health checks, while also applauding the seamless organisation of the exercise and expressing hope that it would become a sustained programme.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Oyo State Correspondents’ Chapel, Yinka Adeniran, said the collaboration was designed to encourage journalists to monitor their health while extending medical services to residents of the community hosting the chapel’s secretariat.
He expressed appreciation to the management and medical team of NIKZAR Medical Centre, the Oyo NUJ Chairman, members of the chapel’s executive council and the Chairman of the Medical and Health Committee, Joseph Okwuofu, for ensuring the success of the outreach.
Adeniran added that the chapel would continue to seek partnerships with healthcare providers and other organisations to promote the welfare of journalists and expand similar interventions in the future.
