when I asked Hon. B. F. Komolafe to know what actually lured him into deciding on the programme of mobilising a 56-members medical team comprising of surgeons, Anesthesians, pharmacists, ophthamologists into Ifewara Comprehensive Health Center all at a time?
As he set to answer the question, I saw in him a man full of God's grace and power set to perform amazing wonder with landmark signs among his people.
Or how can one describe the event of Thursday 10th November 2016 in Ifewara?
It was an unusual or wonderful event that is believed to be caused by the power of God.
Hon. Babatunde Komolafe looked me straight in my eyes and replied that it was God that put it in his mind to do. That he had assisted about thirteen people of his constituency that came to him privately for finacial assistance to undergo one surgery or the other mainly based on enlarged scrotum, hernia or breast lumps.
Then it finally occured to him that he should make a callout to all those that are suffering similar ailments but are unable to reach to him.
Hence, for two months he went on air using paid radio advertsement an social media to call on people that need surgical operations to alleviate their suffering from hernia, hemoraphy and lumpectomy. He also called on those with sight problem to come for free eye test and treatment with free general body checkup for interested people that can present themselves at the Health Center.
Alas! About a hundred people showed up to collect the forms and when screening with medical tests were completed on them, sixty seven cases that required surgery were identified.
Surprisingly, forty of the male (children and adults) that showed up for the surgical operation were suffering from various degree of enlarged scrotum. Also known as scrotal lymphedema or scrotal elephantiasis in medical terms and "ipa" in yoruba language; a "massive enlargement" of the scrotum due to thickening of tissue and accumulation of fluid.
The most obvious symptom is a large scrotum; this can range in size from a grapefruit to a basketball that just kept growing until this wonderful Thursday morning that surgery the best option to remove the swollen tissue was administered.
Imagine carrying a bowling ball between your legs that weighs close to 2kg. One of the patients spent more than eight years with this extra burden before this faithful Wednesday the 10th, a date he will never forget in a hurry. One could imagine the pains (psychological and physical) that those in this condition have passed through. Sure, there are a lot of people that will look and laugh and stare in shock and awe and amazement. Some nursed the fear that it might be necessary to castrate them to fix the problem; others with the fear that they would probably die with the problem. And what of the fear of the cost of the surgery alone that may amount to about two hundred thousand naira (N200000).
Another medical situation that was prominent at the center was hernia. A complication that occurs when an organ pushes through an opening in the muscle or tissue that holds it in place. For example, the intestines may break through a weakened area in the abdominal wall. Hernias are most common in the abdomen, but they can also appear in the upper thigh, belly button, and groin areas. Most hernias are not immediately life threatening, but they don’t go away on their own and can require surgery to prevent potentially dangerous complications.
In the accompaning photos to this note, there are patients in hospital gown waiting in a preoperative holding area, some were taken in the anesthesia room where relaxing medication were administered to numb the surgery but note that some of the patients had general anesthesia.
In turn some photos show the patients on the operation tables with the surgions at work. Hon B. F. Kolawole is shown in the the thearter and can also be seen assiting some patients. There are photos of children in deep sleep at post surgery stage and photos of those doing the eye test.
I hope the media attention surrounding this show will encourage other men with the problem to seek treatment and stimulate others to be of help to the needy.
May God continue to bless Hon. B. F. Komolafe.
Photos Credit Oladimeji Lasore
FOOTNOTE:
HEALTH IS WEALTH
By Oladimeji Lasore
Hon. Babatunde Festus Komolafe (BFK), Member Osun State House of Assembly in Conjunction with Youth Progressive Group, Provide Free Life-changing Surgeries for Poor Patients of His Constituency..
Ifewara Comprehensive Health Center will tomorrow the 10th of November, 2016 play host to the good gesture of people centered and sympathetic member of Osun House of Assembly representing Atakunmosa East LG, Atakunmosa East Central LCDA, Atakunmosa West LG and Atakunmosa West Central LCDA, Hon. Babatunde Festus Komolafe (BFK) as free surgical operations will be performed on some patients.
The preceeding screening and medical checkups on the patients had taken place at Ifewara on Tuesday October 27, 2016.
Surgical operations will be performed on patients suffering from hernia, hemoraphy, lumpectomy and free eye treatment will be administered. There shall also be free general body checkup for interested people that can present themselves at the Health Center.
It is my prayer that as they undergo this surgery, may each decision of the surgeons be correct and each procedure be accurate. May our Lord, the Greatest Physician come and be present, watching, waiting, moving to help and guard every moment during this procedure.
May they be protected from all harm and may the sponsor Hon. Babatunde Festus Komolafe be fortified and replenished.
Good luck to all the patients —
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