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A Bauchi State-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), Radiant Care Foundation (RCF), has provided free medical services to 100 persons with visual impairment in Anguwan Makafi, Bauchi metropolis, under its Project THRIVE 1.0.

The outreach, held yesterday, provided the beneficiaries with basic health screening, malaria testing and treatment, health education, medical consultations, essential drugs and long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) for malaria prevention.

During the exercise, the executive director of the foundation, Aliyu Miriam Ohunene, said the intervention aimed to bridge the healthcare gap faced by vulnerable members of the community, particularly persons with disabilities.

Ohunene, a nurse, said the foundation was concerned about the difficulty some residents experience in accessing healthcare due to financial and mobility challenges.

“We are here to check their medical status, diagnose and provide medications where necessary. Some of them do not understand the importance of these medications and routine checks. We are helping them monitor their vitals to ensure they enjoy a good quality of life,” she said.

She explained that services provided during the outreach included malaria testing, blood pressure and blood glucose checks, HIV screening, vital signs monitoring, medical consultation and dispensing of prescribed medications.

According to her, some residents often delay seeking treatment for common ailments such as malaria and headaches because of the cost of healthcare, a situation she said could worsen their health conditions.

“Our target for today is 100 adults. We are also supporting children, but the focus today is on adults. We expect beneficiaries to leave with better knowledge of their health and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle,” she added.

The deputy executive director of RCF, Daniel Aliyu, said Project THRIVE 1.0 was the foundation’s maiden edition of the intervention, specifically designed to reach 100 persons living with visual impairment.

He said the programme was aimed at promoting early detection of common illnesses, providing treatment and essential medicines, referring complicated cases for further care and promoting health equity for persons with disabilities.

“The outreach is providing access to basic medical screening, malaria testing and treatment, vital signs and glucose checks, medical consultation, prescribed medications and malaria prevention support through the distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets,” Aliyu said.

Also speaking, the deputy director of Primary Healthcare, Bauchi LGA, Mohammed Rashid Aliyu, commended RCF for the intervention, describing it as timely.

He said the government would continue to partner with organisations supporting efforts to improve healthcare delivery in the state, urging beneficiaries to take advantage of the services provided.

Also speaking, the representative of Sarkin Makafi, Abdullahi Jibrin, said the community had faced challenges accessing healthcare because of the peculiar needs of its residents, most of whom are persons with disabilities.

Jibrin appealed to the government to give the area special attention and ensure that its residents receive adequate healthcare and other social services.

Some beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the foundation for the intervention and called on the government and other organisations to sustain and expand similar programmes to reach more persons with disabilities.