Boosting community health care

Mothers receiving lectures on family planning. Photo: PATIENCE OGBO

Community health care delivery can be boosted if private medical practitioners will give back to the society. Adeolu Olusodo, the Medical Director of Stars Clinic, at Ebutte-Metta, stated this during the monthly mother’s forum organised by the clinic to enlighten mothers on family planning methods and general hygiene of their families. “It is obvious that the government has not done enough for the health sector but it will go a long way if private practitioners also set aside a little from their profits and give back to the society where they reside,” he said. “That way the community will benefit and the health of the people residing in that area will be better for it.”

Giving back to society

The Stars Clinic is a non-profit organisation. It holds a monthly mothers’ forum to help women take good care of themselves and their families. This month’s forum, which had officials of the Society for Family Health as resource persons, focused on family planning methods. Participants at the event had the opportunity to witness practical use of different contraceptives and the newly introduced female condom. The women were also educated on the need for child spacing, it benefits, the role partners play in ensuring effective child spacing, and the ‘ideal’ child spacing method.

“The ‘ideal’ child spacing method does not exist; the ideal method is that which suits the client,” said Christopher Olayinka, of the Society for Family Health. “We have been able to teach the women what child spacing is all about and its importance to themselves and their families. The various types of child spacing methods; which include the traditional methods, the natural bead method, the barrier method, which is using the male and female condoms, diaphragm, the hormonal contraceptives and permanent methods.”

Getting more people involved

Dr Olusodo said the clinic will continue to provide a platform for the people in the community to receive expert’s advice and treatment on their health. “We will continue to do our best in providing health services and education to people in our community,” he said. “In our clinic, we have been providing free treatment to people at the primary and secondary health care levels. Children who attend our clinic pay just N500 for whatever ailment, while adults pay N1000 for any ailment. Those illnesses we cannot attend to, we usually counsel the patients and advise them. I urge other private doctors to also set aside some of their profits to private free health service or subsidize these services to poor people in their community. They can also dig a borehole for their community and attend to other needs they see is lacking in their community.”

Some of the women at the event said they were enlightened on the various family planning methods. “Before I came here, I do not know anything about some of the family planning methods, but after the lecture I have been well informed and it will help me in life,” said Wunmi Adebayo, a teacher. “I will come back next month and will tell my neighbours and friends to also come and attend the mothers’ forum.”