The Gladys Fagbemi Elderly Care Foundation on Friday held its annual free medical outreach in Surulere, Lagos, where hundreds of residents received free medical examinations, consultations, and prescribed medications.
The outreach, which attracted more than 500 beneficiaries, featured screenings for various health conditions, including high blood pressure and blood sugar levels, as well as free eye examinations. Prescription glasses were also distributed to those who needed them.
Palliative packages were equally distributed to beneficiaries as residents turned out in large numbers to participate in the outreach.
Speaking with journalists, the founder of the foundation, Mrs. Aderele Fagbemi, popularly known as Mama’s Child, said the annual outreach was organised to celebrate the legacy of her late mother, after whom the foundation is named.
“Today, we’re celebrating the legacy of my late mom, Gladys Fagbemi, and the third-year memorial of my sister, Pastor Aderele Fagbemi-Lamaye,” she said.
“This is the sixth edition of the Gladys Fagbemi Elderly Care Foundation Medical Outreach for the Elderly. It is something my mother was deeply passionate about because she was a nurse before she passed away.
“She always had compassion for the care of the elderly. That is why, when we decided to uphold her legacy, we established the Elderly Care Foundation,” she said.
She added,”I’m happy because this is our community. This is where I was born, and I’m delighted to put smiles on the faces of the elderly in our community. I pray that, by God’s grace, this initiative will outlive me and that my children will continue the work whenever God calls me home.”
Speaking on whether the annual medical outreach would eventually be extended beyond Surulere, she explained that, in honour of her late mother, the outreach would continue to be held in the community, particularly in front of her mother’s residence.
“Surulere Constituency is Mama’s place. That’s where she lived throughout her married life, and that’s where we were born. We would like to preserve Mama’s wishes.
“So, for as long as we can, we will continue to hold it here. However, we also have another foundation for my sister, the Adasa Global Foundation.
“Adasa is more far-reaching. We operate in about 10 countries around the world, including the United Kingdom, the Philippines, Canada, the United States, Tanzania, and Kenya.
“With that foundation, we are not restricted to a particular location. But as far as the elderly care outreach is concerned, it has to remain in the Surulere community,” she said.
Mrs. Fagbemi also disclosed that about 500 elderly residents benefited from this year’s outreach, with medical professionals from various specialties providing healthcare services.
“We distributed about 500 registration cards, so we expected about 500 beneficiaries because everyone came with a card. There are also a few people who came without cards, and I instructed the doctors to attend to them because, in this community, we are like one family.
“We have about eight doctors, four optometrists, a matron, and four nurses,” she said.
She further revealed that the outreach has been fully funded by the family since its inception.
“By His grace, God has been helping us. Mama lived a very fulfilling life, and her impact on us, her children, has been remarkable. In line with our wishes, the outreach is fully funded by the family,” she said.
Speaking on the challenges encountered over the years, Mrs. Fagbemi described them as opportunities for growth.
“I would rather call them stepping stones. Every year, the programme gets better, and the crowd keeps increasing. We now have people coming from Shitta and Akerele Street.
“Initially, we started with people within this immediate community around Ore Ofe, but now we have participants from Akerele, Shitta, and beyond. We are expanding, and we hope to grow even further.
“Perhaps by the seventh edition, we will move the programme to the Love Garden Community because we have outgrown the front of Mama’s house,” she said.
She also commended the government for its efforts in the healthcare sector and urged individuals and organisations to complement government initiatives.
“The government is doing its part, and we, as citizens, must collaborate with them. Government cannot do everything, which is why we are also playing our part. They are supportive of what we are doing.
“Last year, doctors from the Lagos State Ministry of Health joined us during the outreach,” she added.
Meanwhile, Prophetess Dr. Augustina Ifeanyi Uche Ueamaka, a niece of the late Mrs. Gladys Fagbemi, also paid tribute to the deceased, describing her as a compassionate woman who inherited her caring nature from her father.
“Mama was a wonderful person. What you are seeing today runs in the family. My grandfather, Mama’s father, was a doctor. He had a large family with seven wives and many children.
“He was a kind man. Those who could not afford medical care received treatment free of charge. He never collected money from them. Mama simply took after him,” she said.
Some beneficiaries also expressed appreciation for the initiative.
One of them, Pa Ade Kayode, said he hoped to support the outreach financially in the future.
“I am so excited, and I can tell you that the foundation is doing a wonderful job.
“I believe that one day I will also contribute to the foundation because what they are doing is remarkable. You can see the large crowd gathered here,” he said.
Another beneficiary, Mrs. Mary Irabor, said the late Mrs. Fagbemi was a respected mother in their church.
“Mama Fagbemi was a mother to us in our church. That is why members of our CWO came here to benefit from this medical outreach.
“I have checked my blood sugar level and blood pressure, and I have also seen the doctor.
“The doctor has given me a prescription, so I will now go to the pharmacy to collect my medication,” she said.
