By Chiagoziem Abosi
Edited by Bababunmi Agbemi
A community newspaper should do more than tell people what is happening around them.
It should also listen to them, connect with them and, when possible, help create opportunities that make life a little better.
That is the thinking behind IkejaBird’s community outreach initiatives.
In August, IkejaBird partnered with Kingstribe, CrossFit and Health Drive for a community-focused health and wellness outreach, bringing free health checks and medical consultations closer to residents.
By the end of the outreach, 80 people had received health checks, including blood pressure, blood sugar and Hepatitis B screening, alongside access to medical consultations.
But for IkejaBird, the significance of the day went beyond the numbers.
It was about showing what it means to be a community platform that does not simply report on Ikeja, but is also present within the community.
Health is one of those things people often postpone.
There is always work to do, bills to pay and somewhere else to be.
That is why taking basic health screening closer to people can matter.
During the August outreach, residents had the opportunity to check some basic health indicators including Hepatitis B and speak with health professionals without having to begin the process by visiting a hospital.
According to the World Health Organization, hepatitis B is a viral infection that affects the liver and can become chronic, potentially leading to complications such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. One of the challenges is that many people with a new hepatitis B infection do not experience symptoms, making testing important.
That makes a simple screening exercise more than just another activity.
It gives people information about their health that they may not otherwise have sought out.
The August programme also built on an earlier partnership between IkejaBird and Health Drive in July
During the previous outreach, 90 people were screened for Hepatitis B.
The August programme reached another 80 people.
That means 170 people were reached across the two health-focused community activities.
For IkejaBird, that number represents something important: continuity.
We are not interested in showing up once, taking pictures and disappearing.
The goal is to keep finding ways to create meaningful connections between residents and issues that affect their everyday lives.
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