Poverty is a major cause of ill health and a barrier to accessing health care when needed.
This relationship is financial: the poor cannot afford to purchase those things that are needed for good health, including sufficient quantities of quality food and health care.
But, the relationship is also related to other factors related to poverty, such as lack of information on appropriate health-promoting practices or lack of voice needed to make social services work for them.
Ill health, in turn, is a major cause of poverty. This is partly due to the costs of seeking health care, which include not only out-of-pocket spending on care (such as consultations, tests and medicine), but also transportation costs and any informal payments to providers.
It is also due to the considerable loss of income associated with illness in developing countries, like Nigeria.
Both of the breadwinner, but also of family members who may be obliged to stop working or attending school to take care of an ill relative
In addition, poor families coping with illness might be forced to sell assets to cover medical expenses, borrow at high interest rates or become indebted to the community.
However, awarded that health is wealth and the need for people, especially the downtrodden to know their health history, the Oranyan Festival Organisation organised another in its series of free public health programmes, as part of activities to celebrate the festival.
Just few days, a two-day free media services was offered to over one thousand residents of Oyo metropolis which comprises of four local governments ( Afijio, Ariba, Oyo East and Oyo West).
During the exercise, every resident, including His Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba (Dr.) Lamido Olayiwopa Adeyemi 111, his wives (Ayabas ), aides and other workers of the ancient Palace were thoroughly examined medically by a team of student doctors from Teaching Hospitals across the South West part of the country, including Kwara State, under that auspices of the National Association of Medical Students.
After the check up, necessary medications were given, while those with complicated cases were referred to the hospital for advanced medical attention..
After the exercise, the team of medical students paid a courtesy visit on the Alaafin in his palace
The team of medical students were led by the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee for Oranyan Festival, Dr. Alayo Ayo, and other principal officers of the Oranyan Festival Organisation.
In his short address, Oba Adeyemi said strong health systems improve the health status of the whole population, but especially of the poor among whom ill health and poor access to health care needs to be concentrated, as well as protect households from the potentially catastrophic effects of out-of-pocket health care costs. In general, he noted that poor health is disproportionately concentrated among the poor.
The Royal Father, however, stressed the importance of equity in health care delivery, so as to “improve the level and distribution of key health, nutrition and population outcomes… particularly for the poor and the vulnerable”.
Alaafin, who lauded the medical students, the Medical Advisory Committee for their selfless efforts, patriotic zeal and sense of belonging, prayed for divine knowledge, wisdom and good health.
Each of the medical students and the Medical Advisory team were later presented with certificates of meritorious service and cash donations as motivations.h
The medical students too surprised the Alaafin and the Oranyan Festival Organisation for their intensive welfare and hospitality while their assignments lasted.
They too presented meritorious wards to some members of the Oranyan Festival Organisation, and a Member of the House of Representatives in the National Assembly, who represents Oyo Federal Constituency comprising the four local governments’ areas in Oyo State, Prince Akeem Adeniyi Adeyemi (Skimeh).
