U.S. Based Pharmacist Provides Free Care, Drugs to Communities

As part of effort to contribute towards the well-being of the people, the Founder and President of Freedom Health Initiative /Olooto Health Advocacy Group, Dr. Akinnuga Olusanya, who is based in the United States (US) has provided free healthcare and drugs to some communities in Nigeria. Speaking with New Telegraph on Sunday, Olusanya said since he started the project in December, 2017, communities that have so far benefited from the programme were in Ogun and Lagos states.

According to the clinical pharmacist, his vision was to expand the free care to Nigerians in all parts of the country, saying that he had something to give back  to his people in Nigeria after making his mark in the pharmaceutical sector aboard in the last 30 years. Olusanya said: “I started thinking of what I could do within my own profession to help my people back home.

And I know Nigeria is deficient in the area of health. So, that being my own profession, I started by starting a medical outreach and health welfare in rural and urban areas. Just to create awareness because health is very important and I was just talking to a patient and she was concerned about how her high blood pressure was after hearing what a doctor told her. Before, then she does not have clue about what the condition of her health was.

The blood pressure was on high side.

“The same experience is applicable to many Nigerians and it is very important for us to check our health condition so often because if we refuse to do that and somebody may just fall and die.

“Consequently, people will be saying that someone from the village has killed the person. But no, this is a simple thing that people are not aware of. So, it is the goal of my organisation to help people to be aware of their health condition.

“Since, we started doing these, two doctors have been assisting on this project without payment. We also have three nurses, who are carrying out medical tests on the people before they see the doctors.

As many people that want to come for the free treatment can come because by the grace of God, we will attend to everybody together with my partners,” he said. Olusanya further said that he even got free drugs from local pharmacies in the country. “I formed a forum and told them about my vision.

People in there bought into the vision and are supporting me financially. We did the same thing in Ogun State last year December and I want to take this programme all over Africa, South America, India and other places that need health support,” he said.