The Ijebu-Remo branch of the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) on Monday organised a free medical service for residents of Ijebu Ode, Ogun State in partnership with the family of late Dr. Segun Olunuga, as part of remembrance activities lined up to celebrate one year of his demise.
Olunuga, a medical doctor, was until his death the Chief Medical Director of Segun Olunuga Specialist Hospital, Olisa Street, opposite Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Ijebu Ode. His family, under the aegis of Segun Olunuga Foundation, partnered with the Pyrates Confraternity, of which Olunuga was a highly placed member, to distribute free eye glasses, treat different ailments and provided free drugs.
One of the beneficiaries, Alhaji Moshood Ogunmuyiwa, said, “I am 75 years old with eye problems and never thought I’ll be able to see properly again. Now, apart from this eye glass they gave me, they also treated me and gave me drugs. I was told the man they are doing this in his memory was not a Muslim, but as a Muslim myself, this is what I want my children to be doing after I am dead because God will treat me kindly in the grave. My prayer for the man and all of them that contributed to do this for us is that God will also remember them with kindness.”
Sixty-two years old Mrs Labake Adebanjo, clutching two bottle of drinks and snacks also said, “Can you imagine they gave us food along with this free treatment, which also included free drugs? I will always pray for Dr. Olunuga. I will also pray for his family and these people because I have no money to go to the hospital and they did all these for me free. God will continue to bless them.”
One of the children of the deceased, Mr. Tosin Olunuga, who is a registered Nurse, came from his United States base to be part of the programme. He described the event as normal. “Dad always taught us the value of assisting the less privileged, and we have to continue doing that, not just in his memory, but because it is the right thing to do. It will be a yearly event from now to honour his memory,” he said. The deceased’s wife, Mrs Olusola Atoke Olunuga, was also on hand distributing food items and drinks to all the patients.
Zonal Capone of Katamaran (Ijebu-Remo Zone), Comrade Jamal Caleb Apena, eulogised Olunuga. “If there are words to describe the best of the best, Olunuga deserves such words, because he was one of our finest and a credible father figure to all of us in the organisation. And I am sure you know that the activity we are carrying out today is one of the things we do on a regular basis to assist the less privileged in the society,” he said.
155 patients registered for treatement at the eye section during the event. 72 of them were given free glasses, while 33 got free drugs. The rest were either treated and asked to return for glasses because their specifications were not available. At the General section, 138 patients registered and all of them were treated and given drugs.
The Eye Foundation Hospital, Ijebu Mushin and staff of Olunuga Specialist Hospital were also involved in treating the patients.
