Over 3,000 Senior Citizens in Ondo Receive Free Healthcare Courtesy of Minister's Community Initiative

A minimum of 3,000 elderly residents spanning the 18 local government areas of Ondo State have received medical care at no cost, courtesy of a health outreach program sponsored by Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

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This outreach effort, which was organized by a subgroup within the All Progressives Congress, took place on Wednesday in Akure, with the aim of providing essential medical services to those in need.

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Chief Ademola Ijabiyi, convener of the PBAT Mandate Elders Forum, noted that the initiative initially catered to around 500 beneficiaries and has since expanded to include over 3,000 participants in a phased manner.

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The medical outreach was hosted at the residence of Pa Erastus Akeju, the leader of the PBAT Mandate Elders Forum, where elderly residents were able to access medical care and attention.

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According to Ijabiyi, the program was specifically designed to address the health challenges faced by elderly individuals, many of whom experience limited access to medical care due to their age and mobility constraints.

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Ijabiyi explained that the idea for the outreach program arose from the group's regular gatherings, where it became apparent that the elderly members were in need of medical assistance, prompting Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo to offer his support.

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He stated that the program has enabled the group to address various aspects of the elderly residents' health, providing them with much-needed care and support.

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Ijabiyi emphasized that the elderly members of the group, who are no longer as mobile as their younger counterparts, are able to provide background support and guidance, giving the younger members confidence in their actions.

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The outreach program is also part of a broader effort to mobilize politically ahead of the 2027 general election, as acknowledged by Ijabiyi.

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Regarding the crisis within the party in the state, Ijabiyi revealed that the factions had been reconciled following the intervention of the national leadership, resulting in a unified party structure.

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He confirmed that there are no longer any factions within the party in Ondo State, and that the national body had successfully reconciled the two groups, distributing positions among them.

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Ijabiyi stressed that the party executives and structure in Ondo State are now unified, and that those representing the state at the national level do so with a united front.

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Mrs Bukola Oluderu, the Assistant Secretary of the group, expressed her gratitude to the minister for his generous gesture in sponsoring the medical outreach program.