Oke Ogun has high concentration of diabetes, high blood pressure patients – Expert

By; Bayo Akamo, Ibadan.
A medical practitioner, Dr Tiamiyu Ilori at the weekend alerted that Oke Ogun area of Oyo State is now one of the regions with high concentration of diabetics and high blood pressure patients in the country.
Dr Ilori raised the alarm while speaking at the grand finale of Senator Fatai Buhari health program in conjunction with Oke Ogun Forum (a non political association of Oke Ogun indigenes in Kwara state).
According to him, other health challenges facing the people of Oke Ogun aside hypertension and diabetes also include arthritis, cataract, renal failure, ulcer, and malaria among others.
He attributed the increase in the diseases in Oke Ogun area of Oyo State to the distance between the location and major hospitals where these cases can be treated.
“Ignorance and delay at home is another major problem because there is no immediate hospital which they can refer them to, the one that is available, we don’t have enough staff and adequate equipment that can be used to cater for the people”, he said.
Dr Ilori stressed further that “many people died before getting to hospital because of complications which may have affected their status”
“We were prompted to go into this free medical program sponsored by Senator Buhari in order to alleviate the suffering of our people who lack access to qualitative health care delivery in this region”
Speaking further, Dr Ilori disclosed that during the exercise, a number of people were seen “wearing diabetes and hypertension while many of them told us that they are just mere walking corpse because, most of them are just time bomb for them to go into diabetes and  hypertension complications “
The medical practitioner maintained that with the exercise, “we were able to change the orientation of our people regarding their health and revived some of the souls that are already awaiting complications and probably death and our joy will be continuity of this program”.
During the free medical check up, over 10,000 Oke Ogun indegenes were treated and given drugs worth between N1, 500 and N5000 depending on their ailment.
In his remark, Chairman of the Forum Alhaji Lasis Adewuyi said “when we approached Senator Buhari on this project, he gladly accepted to assist us and he provide us with necessary materials , despite the fact that he is not from Oke Ogun he gave us money to carry out the project and we are happy”
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Wosilat Kareem, lauded Senator Buhari for the free medical check up saying, “I never knew I have blood pressure until I was diagnosed today and I am happy I have been given medication and medical advice on how to handle the  blood pressure in such a way that I will live longer”.