President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, at the weekend offered free medical services to the residents of Surulere in Lagos State, saying that about 700 persons are being targeted for the gesture with free medical consultation, drugs, and glasses.
The free medical outreach organised by the Akpabio Cares Initiative, a philanthropic programme driven by the office of the Senate President, is the third edition of the initiative in two years, following previous interventions in Osogbo, Osun State, and Yankaba in Kano State, respectively.
The event saw a significant turnout of vulnerable members of the community who accessed essential healthcare services at no cost.
Speaking to newsmen at the event, the Convener and Senior Legislative Aide to the President of the Senate, Ahmed Tijani Mustapha, stated that the initiative was a way of giving back to society.
“We are doing this as a way to give back to society and we believe that the best gift is that of good health,” Mustapha said, revealing that the goal for the Lagos outreach was to reach about 700 persons with free medical consultation, drugs, and glasses.
When questioned on why the initiative was held in Lagos and not in Senator Akpabio’s home state of Akwa Ibom, Mustapha explained the national outlook of the Senate President’s office.
“Senator Godswill Akpabio is Senate President for the whole of Nigeria and so his impact must be felt across the country,” he stated.
Beneficiaries of the free medical service expressed profound gratitude to Senator Akpabio and the convener for the intervention.
One beneficiary said, “We are specially grateful to Senator Akpabio for remembering us in this community and deciding to reach out to us. We pray that God will make it easy for him.”
Another noted the significance of having a native of the community in a position to attract such dividends of democracy, saying, “I am appreciative that the Senate President appointed Mustapha who grew up in this community and has brought dividends of democracy to us.”
Concluding the event, Convener Ahmed Tijani Mustapha announced that the next port of call for the initiative’s train of humanitarian services would be the North Central geopolitical zone of the country, continuing its mission to deliver accessible healthcare as a form of social responsibility across Nigeria.