HEALTH

The Health team consists of volunteers who are both medical practitioners and non-medical personnel.  The main aim of the Group is to improve basic health care in a population of 5,500-7,500 less privileged individuals in Obalende by the end of 2007.

From July 2006 the Health team was able to conduct twice a month outings, using the Obalende health centres and targeting 250-400 persons per outing.  It also concentrated on health education, using these outreach opportunities to pass on simple health tips to Obalende residents.

Main Activities

1. Health education.
2. Medical Examinations and dispensing of routine drugs- multivite, vitamin B complex, Iron tablets, paracetamol, glucose etc.
3. Treatment of specific illnesses- commonly malaria, pneumonia and other cough, hypertension, diarrhoeal, asthma, fungal infections.
4. Referrals:  Diabetes, tuberculosis, suspected HIV/AIDS cases and other sexually transmitted diseases, surgical cases like hernia and appendicitis, incision and drainage for boils. Also gynaecological cases.
5. Partaking in disease prevention strategies.
6. Psychological counseling and advice on smoking, weight loss and healthful living.  

Achievements So Far

1. 3,615 people were attended to from June-December 2006
1. Males: 1,313,
2. Females: 3615
3. Mean age: 33 years
4. Age range: 1-76 years
2. Donation of water guards (purifiers)
3. Donation of various drugs to the health centre
4. One unit of borehole sank at the health centre to serve the centre and the market.

Future Goal

• Immediate, renovation and furnishing of the health centre by 2nd quarter of 2007.