450 Benefit From Customs Wives’ Free Medical Screening In Ogun

About 450 people, which included Service personnel and members of their immediate communities, have benefited from a 2-day free medical outreach programme organised by the Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA) of the Ogun 1 Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Idiroko.

The free medical outreach was in continuation of the efforts towards promoting quality health of COWA members, NCS personnel, other sister security agencies and host communities as part of COWA’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Declaring the event opened, Customs Area Controller Comptroller (CAC), Idiroko, Comptroller Godwin Otunla said the free medical check-up was organized to reinforce COWA commitment to the wellbeing of its members, security agencies and in the host communities including youths, women, children, and aged people in line with the policy thrust of Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR Ph.D.

The association is passionate about the health and safety of the people in the communities we operate, and we uphold the maxim “Customs cares”.

In line with the corporate social responsibility (CSR), this exercise is part of the CGC commitment to a mutually beneficial relationship with its host communities.

The COWA chairperson, Ogun I Command, Mrs. Fausat Ajoke Otunla, speaking on behalf of the National president of Customs Wives Association, Mrs Kikelomo Adeniyi, said the association is committed to driving sustainability, people empowerment and promoting the welfare of not only its members but the members of its host communities.

She emphasized that the initiative aligns with the first lady’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” which focuses on empowering windows, supporting children and vulnerable families.

The 2-day medical outreach which catered for over 450 people, offered blood pressure checks, hepatitis screening, free medical consultation, drug distribution, free eye screening, blood sugar screening, obesity assessment and medications to beneficiaries who were attended to by command medical team.

The Medical Officer in charge of Command medical centre, Superintendent of Customs Dr. Abdulmalik Zakariyya commended COWA for the laudable initiative.

He maintained that health is not just the absence of disease but a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, remarking that unfortunately, many people only think about their health when illness has already set in, taking deliberate steps to stay well and detect diseases early. Preventive care is like staying away from danger.

He emphasised that service personnel’s bodies need periodic maintenance, and that is how to identify silent killers like high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and certain cancers before they cause damage.

He revealed that the 20-man medical team that conducted the outreach comprised two Medical Doctors, one Pharmacist, two Pharmaceutical technicians, four Nurses, four Medical records, three Opticians and four lab technicians.