No fewer than 700 residents of Surulere Local Government in Lagos State benefited from a free medical outreach organised by the Akpabio Cares Initiative, a humanitarian programme driven by the office of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

The outreach, which was held on Saturday, provided free medical consultations, drugs and eyeglasses to vulnerable members of the community.

This was contained in a statement issued in Abuja by Akpabio’s media team, in Abuja, on Sunday.

It was the third edition of the initiative in two years, following similar interventions in Osogbo, Osun State, and Yankaba, Kano State.

Speaking at the event, the convener and Senior Legislative Aide to the President of the Senate, Ahmed Mustapha, said the programme was part of efforts to give back to society.

“We are doing this as a way to give back to society, and we believe that the best gift is that of good health,” Mustapha said.

He added that the target of the Lagos outreach was to reach about 700 persons with free medical consultation, drugs and eyeglasses.

Explaining why the programme was held in Lagos and not Akpabio’s home state of Akwa Ibom, Mustapha said the Senate President occupies a national office.

“Senator Godswill Akpabio is Senate President for the whole of Nigeria, and so his impact must be felt across the country,” he said.

Some beneficiaries expressed appreciation to Akpabio and the organisers for the intervention.

One of them said, “We are especially grateful to Senator Akpabio for remembering us in this community and deciding to reach out to us. We pray that God will make it easy for him.”

Another beneficiary commended the appointment of Mustapha, noting that his roots in the community helped attract the outreach.

“I am appreciative that the Senate President appointed Mustapha, who grew up in this community and has brought dividends of democracy to us,” the beneficiary said.

Mustapha said the initiative would continue across the country, adding that the next outreach would be held in the North Central geopolitical zone. (The PUNCH)

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