With the assistance of the volunteer medical team comprising medical doctors, eye specialists, nurses, pharmacists and social workers; Bina Foundation is able to carry out comprehensive medical services during the medical outreaches to various communities in Nigeria. In addition, the foundation has a sick bay at the operational base where these services are offered for free as well. This includes free medical screening and tests for prevalent diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, malaria, HIV/AIDS, amongst others. Free treatments and medications (prescription and over-the-counter) are given to the affected individuals. Newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS patients are counselled by the medical team and referred to the governmental health agency for further treatment with anti-retroviral drugs and follow-up. However, routine drugs for opportunistic infections and supportive care are given out for free by the foundation to these patients. The eye team screens specifically for eye disorders including glaucoma and cataracts in the hope of preventing further blindness in our society. Eye medications and prescription glasses are also given out for free to those patients in need. Lastly, the foundation offers health education and counselling to the public specifically victims of HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases while the general public is educated in the hopes to stop stigmatization and raise awareness. [flgallery id=20 /]
Another focus of Bina Foundation is preventing malnutrition especially in children. Malnutrition is widespread and very prevalent in Nigeria thus leading to micro-nutrient deficiencies. The 2014 Global Hunger Index (GHI) still classifies the severity of hunger in Nigeria as “severe”. Inadequate micro-nutrient (vitamins and minerals) consumption in a pregnant woman is one of the leading causes of birth defects in children. Due to lack of adequate nutrients, children end up with various ailments including Kwashiorkor, learning disabilities, blindness, malaria, anaemia, amongst others. The consequence of malnutrition in Nigeria is the prevailing high rate of infant and children mortality. Bina Foundation supplies nutritious foods and drinks to vulnerable children during its outreaches and also regularly visits motherless babies’ homes and orphanages. The medical team also conducts health screening and tests on children and provide them with free treatments, medications and multivitamins.
Bina Foundation is committed to collaborating with other organizations to improve the health conditions of people and achieve its objective of preventing ailments that can cause disabilities and sometimes death. Hence, the organization has an urgent need for more medical screening tests, equipment and devices with the aim of reaching as many people as possible in Nigeria to prevent unnecessary disabilities and death in our society.