AbdulMumin AbdulQuadir
In furtherance of the quest of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to reduce the incidence of heart-related deaths, Lekki Muslim Ummah, LEMU in partnership with Evecare Hospital organised a free medical outreach for the Muslim community in the Lekki area of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria.
Held on Saturday, October 22nd, 2022 at the premises of Lekki Muslim Community Central Mosque located in Hakeem Dickson, the medical outreach was well attended by many residents that trooped in to get their hearts checked.
Dr. Ahmed Moha Sharma, a cardiologist at Evercare Hospital told Muslim News that the initiative was part of the hospital’s corporate social responsibility, adding that it is also a way of giving back to society and saying ‘Thank you’.
He said, “This is part of an ongoing programme. We’ve been doing this before. It’s part of our social responsibility and outreach to the society because it (the society) gives us so much. So, this is our way of saying thank you and helping people.
“We found people who are not aware of their health issues and advised them on how to manage the situation.
He added, “Evercare Hospital is a facility with experts that one might be needing, including neurologists, cardiologists, urologists among others and equipment that are needed for proper care.”
When asked about what it took to have the outreach, he mentioned that there is a team behind the logistics that went to the mosque, liaised with representatives of the Ummah and sealed the agreement. He expressed the happiness derived in helping others as a doctor.
Mr. Abdur-Razaq Awwal, Internal Auditor of LEMU and member of the Welfare Committee stressed the need for Muslims to take health-related matters with concerns, adding that good health is essential for the worship of God.
He said, “We should constantly monitor our health and take precautions in form of advice from medical practitioners. Health they say is wealth and as Muslims, we are made to know that we can only practise our I’baadaat (acts of worship) effectively and efficiently when we are healthy. So, to live well and maximize your gains in the hereafter, you need to give unshaken attention and concern to your health.
Health-wise, Prevention Is Better Than Cure -Okoh
Dr. Bassey Okoh, Cardiologist at Evercare Hospital said that it is better to prevent diseases, especially cardiological diseases such as hypertension, stroke and heart attack than to give them remedial treatment.
According to him, times were in the past when the world battled with communicable diseases like Cholera, Ebola and COVID-19, now non-communicable diseases are the order of the day and it is better to catch a black goat by the day.
He said: In earlier times, the world battled with communicable diseases, but as modernization came, there was a switch to non-communicable diseases of which cardiovascular diseases are inclusive.
“The essence of our coming is to screen people and diagnose them early enough and in the process of screening, we found people who were hypertensive and diabetic, gave them treatment, health assessment and advice. That’s our responsibility and we have come here to contribute our quota,” he said.
This is a wonderful initiative, a helping hand to the less privileged – Tijani
Idris Tijani, one of the beneficiaries of the outreach lauded the initiative and claimed that it is a form of succour for the less privileged.
He said, “This is a kind of thing that is supposed to happen time after time to promote the well-being of Muslims. This is the second time I’m witnessing such a happening in Lekki Muslim Ummah and it is a very good one because it helps us ascertain our health status while staying within our limit.
Abdur-Rauf Kola Oloyede, another beneficiary also commended the organizers and prayed that Allah rewards them abundantly.
He said: “Jazakumullahu khairan.”
