INTRODUCTION

The NAS 2019 National Konverge Medical Mission which is an annual event and part of the programme of activities lined up for this year’s Convention will hold in Ikota community on Thursday, August 1, 2019, @ Ikota Primary Health Care Centre, Etiosa Local Government Area of Lagos State, Nigeria.

THE LOCATION

Ikota is under Maroko Okun Alfa ward and it is relatively a new settlement that is fast developing with several new estates springing up and a few densely populated slum areas. It is located at coordinates: 6.4519N and 3.5549E. It is contiguous to Idado, Igboefon, Jakande, and Alpha beach all under the Ajiran Land.

SCOPE OF MISSION

NAS-HESAC scoping mission team led by the Chairdawg and the Hispaniola Medic Mate conducted the final scoping mission in preparation for the Medical Outreach to Ikota PHC, Maroko Okun Alfa ward on 2nd July 2019. Ikota is estimated to house about 13,400 persons.

THE PEOPLE

Ikota community is indeed a metropolitan mix of low to high socio-economic groups with diverse occupations and languages; it falls under the traditional jurisdiction of His Royal Majesty Alaiyeluwa Oba Tijani Adetunji Akinloye OON JP (Sateru II) Ojomu of Ajiran Land, the Baale of Ikota – Chief Nasiru Laguda, the Chairman and Vice Chairperson of Maroko Okun Alfa Ward Health Committee – Alhaji Moyosore Sule Lateef and Mrs. Ishola Dorcas. The leaders were accommodating and they showed a willingness to support and ensure that the NAS Medical outreach had a large turnout of beneficiaries by promising to assist in mobilizing the community for the outreach using the community mobilizer.

THE SUPPORT

The free NAS Konverge Medical Mission is being done in collaboration with the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board. The Local Government Area Medical Officer of Health – Dr. Balogun Temitope welcomed and applauded the choice of the community for the free Medical outreach and she pledged collaboration via manpower support from the Local Government Area Health facility staff. The Scoping mission team during the visit to Ikota Primary Health Care Centre were warmly received by the Officer in Charge of the facility Mrs. Oluborode Cecilia- Principal Nursing Officer, Mrs. Oladipo Florence and a Community Health Officer, Mr. Nwebor Friday.

PREVALENT CASES

The scoping mission visit to Ikota Health Facility revealed that the PHC sees mainly, cases of malaria, hypertension, diabetes, skin lesions and bacterial infections, duodenal and peptic ulcers among others, also included in their services are the child and maternal health interventions like immunization and antenatal care.

OUR MISSION

The free NAS Konverge Medical Mission in Ikota community is expected to offer to screen for Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus and malaria, backed by sound laboratory services as well as free medicines with full ophthalmic services and dispensing of free eyeglasses. The organization’s vast human resources will be utilized in diagnosing and treating of common medical ailments seen in the community as this is one of the NAS cardinal points- “For Humanistic Ideals” a service bringing succor to the less privileged in the society. Newly diagnosed patients with serious ailments will be referred for follow up through the Ikota Primary Health Care Centre

CONCLUSION

It is expected that this intervention by NAS will help improve the health indices amongst the people in this community while helping them to stay healthy and be more productive for their families, community and the nation at large.