Medical Outreach: ALIM & Associates Ltd. Partners Murihan Foundation … expends over 1 million naira

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The CEO, Alim& Associates Ltd., Engr. Muhyideen Alimi Yusuf.

Medical Outreach: ALIM & Associates Ltd. Partners Murihan Foundation … expends over one million naira

Zainab Tanimu

Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria

The Management of Alim & Associates Ltd. in its bid to giving back to the society has collaborated with Murihan Foundation For Social Development to reach out to the people.

This biannual exercise according to the  Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) Alim & Associates Ltd., Engr. Muhyideen Alimi Yusuf is hopefully going to be sustained.

Engr. Muhyideen Alimi Yusuf explained.

“What we are trying to do is to pay back to the society, to pay back to the community where we have come from. To share among ourselves the tropical issue of health as it concerns all of us both old and young and it is our hope that as we carry out this task, they, the young ones will also have the spirit of giving out to society in them.”

It has become necessary he said to partner with the foundation because of the financial involvement since there is plan to reach out to people outside Kaduna.

“This year’s event is in collaboration with Murihan Foundation for Social Development. We realized that we cannot restrict these benefits to us alone.

“I remember when we started we discovered that some people have ailments and don’t even know that they have it. For instance there are ailments that do not present immediate symptoms. Such as, hypertension (PB) but through check-ups one is able to know and take necessary precautions.

“In due course we will be going out to reach out to the less privileged, the indigent people in the society and community both inside and outside Kaduna.

“To extend our services to the less privileged, to people that we don’t even know, to people that cannot help us. Those are the people that we think we should be able to reach out to.

“With what we are doing now, it is a call to duty to us so that when the time comes, we can also be part of the beneficiaries and that is why we are partnering with Murihan Foundation for Social Development because Alim & Associates Ltd. cannot take full financial responsibility of the exercise when it comes to extending the services to places outside Kaduna.” Volunteers he said will be needed to assist.

The CEO gave the financial estimate of the just concluded exercise to the tune of over a million naira.

The procurement of drugs, refractions the provision of glasses for those needing glasses, caring of medical personnel entails a lot of funds

Engr. Muhyideen expressing the association’s commitments to ensuring that the bi-annul medical outreach exercise is maintained urged all present to take advantage of the heath talk to better  their health.

He called on medical personnel to from time to time give health talks as that will go a long way in helping people in managing their health conditions.

Dr. Sulaiman Ameen who was there with his medical team commended the efforts of Alim & Associates Ltd in its stride to touching lives of the less privileged. He called on individuals and well to do in the society to emulate and do the same as such act is rewarding in the sight of Allah.

Aside the health talk, such topics like the care of the eyes, depression, coping with some bodily changes in both women and men like the Menopausal/Andropausal symptoms in women and men was delivered.

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In her presentation, one of the medical personnel Mrs Oyebode Kuburat gave an insight on things that could lead to depression and possible ways of coming out of such situations.

Depression is treatable and needs both health talk and treatment to get out of it. She emphasized.

Depression is a mental health condition that involves a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in activities. It can impact how a person feels, thinks, and behaves.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 3.8% of the world’s population, or more than 300 million people, experience depression. This includes 5% of adults, 5.7% of adults over 60, and 5% of children and adolescents.

World Health Organization (WHO) also states that approximately 3.9% of the Nigerian population, which translates to around 7 million people, are currently suffering from depression, making it a significant public health concern in the country.

However, some studies conducted within Nigeria report a much higher prevalence of depression compared to the WHO estimate.

Depression can be caused by a combination of social, psychological, biological, and environmental factors.

Biological factor: this runs in the family.

Psychological factor: This could be as a result of accident, abuse etc. People who have experienced abuse, severe losses, or other adverse events are more likely to develop depression.

There is also the social and economic factor. Just like what we are passing through today in the country.

Among are, poverty, unemployment and high cost of inflation.

“The economic situation we find ourselves today in Nigeria is not helping matters. Therefore, caution needs to be taken in order not to resort to depression. She emphasized.

“The country itself is depressed.

The leaders at homes also are depressed. They are faced with pressure to provide.

Some of the suicide cases we are witnessing today is as a result of depression. Complicated cases of depression lead to suicide.

“There are some other features that present when one is depressed.

Some physical symptoms such as the feeling of emptiness, hopelessness,  anger outburst, irritability, loss of interest in normal activities, chronic stress, sleeplessness including tiredness. There is that feeling of sadness.

“If you notice some of these traits in one, then there is need to render assistance.” She advised.

Seeking support early can help stop symptoms from worsening.”

You have to be sad before depression sets in. One who is sad becomes withdrawn.

“What will make you sad? When your expectations are not met. If someone is sad perpetually, you become withdrawn. When you are withdrawn, your family do not enjoy you.

“The wife does not enjoy the husband, the husband does not enjoy the wife, so also the children. We need to help those in depression.

“Nobody that is alive that will not go through depression but depends on how individuals handle it.”

Explaining,  feeling sad is a normal reaction to difficult times in life. Depression is different—it is a mood disorder that can affect how a person feels, thinks, and acts.

From sadness one gradually progresses to a state of depression.

Oyebode Kuburat called on government to do the needful by helping to cushion the effects of the present economy hardship being faced by the people as many are gradually going into depression.

The community and Religious leaders also have a role to play by educating the people and paving way for open discussions. The religious leaders giving spiritual diets to keep the spirit hopeful.

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There is also the need for individuals to learn to speak out even though, not everyone that is good at opening up on private matters but it is good to at least confide in someone in order to get help.

Treatments include medications, diet and lifestyle changes, and relaxation techniques.

The following strategies would be of great help.  Counseling one in a depressed stage would be of great help. If possible , seek professional help.

There is the need to live a healthy lifestyle. Eat balance diet, have enough sleep. Avoid alcohol and things that could ignite your blood pressure.

In the case of employers,  there should be strong support system for their employees just like what Alim & Associates Ltd has put in place for its staff. Such could go a long way in cushioning the economic effect.

Zainab Tanimu from Newsreservoir was there to capture the event.

(R-L) Zainab Tanimu of Newsreservoir.

According to an old employee of Alim & Associates Ltd., Engr. Afiz Abdulwahab the staff have every reason to appreciate the company’s efforts.

“I have been with Alim Associates since 2008. This is a complete private sector, it comes with it’s own challenges. You need to deliver on the task given to you, and of course, you have a lot of expectations both from employers and the society at large. My year of service here l will say it has been wonderful. It’s been a very good relationship. All l can say is, Alhamdulillah .

“l have worked in other places. I worked in a training institute, kind of a semi and private institute. You have your normal schedule which is training  mostly of young engineers.

In terms of welfare, you can’t compare what you get in private sector with what is offered in the main stream public sector. Moreso, there is no much challenges there, but in terms of welfare ,

(R-L) the CEO 2nd from right. (Engr. Muhyideen Alimi Yusuf, NASFAT Project Secretary worldwide)

my employer has been doing wonderfully well. We are averagely okay, we are not complaining. Infact if you compare us with those that are also similar establishments in the private sector, we will say we are living very well above average.

My advice to employers with regards to the welfare of their employees, “you know the engine room of any establishment is your workforce, if you treat them well, of course you will get the best out of them.

A lot of people jump from one employer to another and mostly is the issue of welfare so l will implore employers outside to take the welfare of their staff seriously.

“Not necessarily monetary but of course there are some packages just like what we have witnessed here today, medical outreach that is hundred percent free for all staff and their relatives, these are kind of things that will make you give your all

to your employer. So, is not always about money but always about the welfare of your staff and their families.

The free  medical outreach aside the health talk provided an opportunity for people to examine the condition of their eyes.

The eye is an important part of the body. He stressed .

Doctor Sulaiman speaking on cataract, one of the diseases of the eyes said there are cases whereby a child could be born with cataract. “If the mother has infection during pregnancy, that infection can travel through the placenta to the eye of the child and the baby can have congenital cataract. That is, cataract that was there before the child was born.

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A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens that prevents light from focusing on the retina. This causes blurred or cloudy vision, and can eventually lead to blindness.

“At 60 to 70years, 60 to 70% of us will have cataract and at 70yrs, 40 to 50%  may have glaucoma. Issues of this nature needs to be discussed.”

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness by damaging a nerve in the back of your eye called the optic nerve.

The symptoms can start so slowly that you may not notice them. The only way to find out if you have glaucoma is to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam.

There’s no cure for glaucoma, but early treatment can often stop the damage and protect your vision.

NASFAT JOINS THE WORLD IN CELEBRATING WORLD HIJAB DAY. NASFAT KADUNA ZONE IS NOT LEFT OUT. CELEBRATE WITH US AT OUR VARIOUS BRANCHES AND GROUPS ACROSS THE ZONE. HAPPENING AT, NASFAT DOKA BRANCH, NASFAT  MAIN BRANCH, NASFAT ZARIA BRANCH, NASFAT KAFANCHA BRANCH AND NASFAT MARARABAN JOS  GROUP.
DATE:  SUNDAY, 2nd OF FEBRUARY, 2025. TIME: 10 am 

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Explaining the structure of the eyes and how to care for them, Dr  Ibrahim

The eyes he said is part of the brain. For us to be able to see clearly, we need the eyes as such the eyes must be in good shape. The eye is made up of three walls. We have the outer wall then you have another ball inside the first layer of the wall and then another ball.

Still explaining the structure of the eyes

“There are parts of the eyes that are opic, that light cannot pass through, and cannot see and there are parts of the eyes which are transparent, once you shine light, light can pass through and one can notice things.

There are so many structures involved in the formation of images. All the structures have their own functions. He added.

For us to be able to see and appreciate what you are seeing clearly, the eye must be in good shape.The cord that connects the eye to the brain must be in good shape. So also that part of the brain that will interpret that part of the information. Any condition that affects these organs will cause loss of vision.

The doctor urged everyone to give proper attention to their eyes and always seek professional attention whenever there is problem.

The two day programme started with physical exercise to keep the body fit.

Dr. Sulaiman had emphasized on the need to exercise the body even if it is that of having a walk on a daily basis.

He however discouraged a situation where one will over exercise the body because such could have negative effect on the person.

In as much as the body needs to be exercised, the body also needs rest. He cautioned.

“Medically,  most adults need around 7-9 hours of sleep per night, while children’s sleep needs vary depending on their age, with younger children requiring significantly more sleep than adults. Typically, school-aged children need 9-12 hours. and teenagers need 8-10 hours per night. He said.

Free drugs were dispensed to patients while those needing glasses were given free of charge.

Also speaking, a beneficiary of the medical outreach, Alhaji Afiz Abimbola has commended Alim Associates for partnering with Murihan Foundation in making the programme worthwhile which he said has brought succor to the people. Such humanitarian exercise he charged the well-to- do in the society to emulate.

“We pray that Allah continues to enrich Alim & Associates Ltd. for the good job they are doing.

Cross Section of those present.

Cross section of the people