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| A crowd fills the Town Hall and waits for medical treatment. |
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| A team of nurses check the patients' blood pressure at one of the attending stations. |
IKIRUN, Nigeria - At 7 a.m., a crowd arrived at the Town Hall of Ikirun,
in southwest Nigeria. On this October day, over 700 Nigerians, including the traditional
King and his chiefs, filed into the building, made their way down the long rows of chairs,
took a seat and waited.
They were waiting to be examined by a volunteer team of doctors and nurses staffing this
three day medical clinic funded by Operation Blessing and sponsored by the Christian Association
of Nigeria (CAN).
Ikirun, is the largest town in the Osun State of Nigeria with a population of over 84,000.
Predominantly a farming and fishing community, it also serves as a local trading center for many
of the southern towns. This medical mission was one of more than half a dozen held by OBI
throughout Nigeria during 2005.
“I have never seen anything like this before,” said Oladimeji, a patient. “It is a privilege
for the whole community and has reduced our suffering. And,” he added, “There was no
discrimination.”
The discrimination Oladimeji referred to was the ongoing conflict among the faith groups in
Nigeria. Prior to the start of the medical clinic, religious tensions ran high, particularly
between the Muslim and Christian communities.
“This program has brought peace and unity,” said CAN Chairman M.O. B. Bodunde. “The comments
from people in the town are good. They are very happy.”
On their first day, the medical team examined and treated 298 people. The remainder was asked
to return the following day. Word quickly spread regarding the clinic’s free exams and medicine
distribution.
“I heard that the people who came the previous day had received medicine,” said Olalere, a
local produce trader. “It is a fine and good program, and the workers attended to us promptly.
Thank you to everyone who has made this possible!”
In all, the team of six doctors and 10 nurses treated a total of 856 people over the course of
three days. Many of the patients expressed their thanks and requested that the medical clinic
remain ongoing.
“This should not to be the end,” said Oyewale, a local hairdresser. “It is a perfect program
and God should strengthen all the people that made it possible.”
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Be a part of OBI's ongoing medical relief efforts by making an online contribution to help those suffering from extreme poverty and sickness.
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