Over 400 patients referred for surgery during the 7th Edition of the Fayemi-Administration's Free Health Mission in April and the Free Cancer Screening Programme organised by the Ekiti State Government last month are currently undergoing free surgery at three health facilities in the state.

The State Commissioner for Health, Prof Olusola Fasubaa who made this known in Ado-Ekiti said that the 400 patients are receiving medical attention at the State Specialist Hospital Ikere, General Hospital, Ijan and the Opthamological Centre at the University of Ado-Ekiti Teaching Hospital.

According to him, 200 of them are being treated for hernia, appendicitis and other illnesses requiring general corrective surgery adding that about 100 are to undergo surgery for cancer related ailments while the remaining 100 patients are receiving attention for cataracts and other eye ailments.

He explained that the Free Health Mission of the present administration was designed to consolidate the Free Health Services of the State Government through regular medical intervention to all citizens of the state using a population-based outreach model. While stressing the commmitment of the State Government to ensuring that essential health services are provided to vulnerable groups in the state , the Commissioner urged already discharged patients and those receiving treatment to adhere strictly to the advice of doctors and other health personnel on the usage of their drugs as well as their diet and live style.

He disclosed that the Surgical Festival which began on Monday, 24th June 2013 would run for five days. Fasubaa however assured that the 8th Edition of the Free Health Mission would hold as scheduled in 13 constituencies of the state next month. In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr( Mrs) Folakemi Olomojobi called on patients who were registered, screened and referred for surgery during the last edition of the Free Health Mission and the Free Cancer Screening Programme of the State Government to take advantage of the good gesture of the state government to attend to their health needs. The beneficiaries of the free surgery expressed gratitude to the state government for what they described as a live-saving initiative.

Three of the beneficiaries, Mr Adesola Otokiti from Ilupeju-Ekiti in Oye Local Goverment Area and Pa Solar Ademilua from Awo-Ekiti Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area and Mrs Victoria Oluwafemi from Ado-Ekiti expressed appreciation to the administration of Governor Fayemi on behalf of others for giving them a new lease of life by solving their health challenges.