The Nigerian Association of Radiography Students (NARS), University of Lagos (UNILAG) Chapter, held the 2024 edition of her annual health-week, tagged “RAYVOLUTION”. The week-long event which spanned 8th-12th July 2024, was packed with a series of events including an annual Health and Academic Symposium, Business Pitch-A-Thon, Debate Competition, Culinary Competition and Medical Outreach.
The Business Pitch-a-thon, held on the 8th of July 2024 in partnership with “Talk With Marvy” and FSDH Asset Management Ltd. During this event, serial entrepreneurs convened to form a panel of judges set to vet the competing teams, who pitched their various start-ups in order to win the grand prize. They also shared their wealth of knowledge and business expertise during panel sessions. These entrepreneurs included: RaDr. Olusegun Marvellous, founder of “Talk With Marvy”; Engr. Dare Ojo, founder of “Ekiti Enterprise Challenge”; Bayode Oke Thomas, country director of “InstantRad Incorporated”; Peter Odidi, CEO, Del’C Ltd; Olusegun Faith, Senior Radiographer, BT Diagnostics and Ogunbela Ridwan, CyberSecurity expert and Radiographer.
The competition saw “Safyarn Crafts”, a crochet fashion brand, emerging as the winner and walking away with a cash prize of 250,000 naira. Coming in second and third place were “Dapo’s Pancakes” and “Chara”, who walked home with 150,000 naira and 100,000 naira respectively. Other contestants also went away with cash consolation prizes.
The Annual Symposium by the association took place on 9th July, 2024. The theme, “Radiography Beyond the Basics: Entrepreneurial Pathway to Success” set the perfect tone for industry professionals to inspire the budding student radiographer community. In attendance and featured in panel sessions were special figures in the radiography profession such as Dr. Femi Olagunju – CEO, ON-George Medicals, Mrs. Elizabeth Balogun – Regional Director for Africa, International Society of Radiographers and Radiological Technologists (ISRRT), Dr. L.C. Abonyi – Head of Radiography Department, University of Lagos, Rad. Sule Joshua – CEO, Synergy D-Pro Health Services Ltd., Mrs Ope Oduwole – Chairman, Association of Radiographers of Nigeria, Lagos State branch amongst others.
A major highlight of the health-week was the medical outreach held on 10th July, 2024. Early detection saves lives. This is why regular health check-ups are encouraged by every medical professional. But in such a busy city as Lagos, it is quite difficult for the masses to squeeze out time for regular check-ups. In light of this, students of the NARS-UNILAG Chapter set out in their numbers from the College of Medicine, University of Lagos to Tejuosho Market, Yaba in a bid to deliver free healthcare checks to the market men and women who ply their trades at the market.
The outreach, which was also a cancer awareness program, is an annual program (sixth edition) by the students association tagged “I CAN-CER VIVE”. The overall aim was to provide check-ups for 200 locals. The group was led by Kelsen Nnaji, Aisha Thomas – president and vice president respectively- with other executive members of the association. The venue was an open space at the Main Tejuosho Shopping Complex, Yaba. Key medical tests were carried out by the Radiography students of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba on every market man and woman who presented for the health checks. These tests included Blood pressure, HIV, Syphilis, Random Blood Glucose (Sugar), Body-Mass Index (BMI) and Malaria tests.
Designated stations for patient registration, waiting area, vitals and blood sample collection were created. Test results were followed up with free consultation by certified health professionals at separate stations as patients found with high blood glucose levels, those who tested positive for HIV, Syphilis and Malaria were advised accordingly by medical consultants. Drugs were also dispensed by pharmacists on ground, to those who were deemed to require them after consultation.
The medical outreach had a very meaningful impact on the Tejuosho community. People who might ordinarily not have the luxury in either time or finance, to get these checks and consultations, made up the vast majority of patients, and were given access to these checks and medical consultations with ease. Students of the association also gained valuable experiences organizing and engaging in a medical outreach.
According to the president of the association, “The Nigerian Association of Radiography Students (NARS) University of Lagos Chapter, intends to test at least 500 locals in Lagos by next year with the support of organizations who share a similar vision of community impact”.
The Health-Week was facilitated by partnerships and sponsorships with various esteemed organizations in and outside the health sector, such as Instantrad Incorporated, Safer Hands Health Initiative, Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (Lagos State Branch), Market Doctors, Talk With Marvy, ON-George Medical Diagnostics, Rovina Diagnostic Services, Synergy D-Pro Health Services Ltd., Amel Susan, FSDH Asset Management, Nectar Fruit Juices, NARS UNILAG Alumni and Codix Pharma.
