Patients going through medical examination

Gbenro Adesina.

As part of efforts to commemorate this year’s Oranyan festival organized by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111, 14 medical experts from the State of Maryland, United States of America today commenced a three -day free medical treatment for the people of the ancient Oyo town and its environs.

The co-coordinator of the 4th Oranyan festival 2015 committee, Retired Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, who briefed newsmen today in the palace on the festival, said that another set of 20 volunteer medical experts had joined their counterparts from America to ensure that the people of the state were treated of various ailments.

Bishop Ladigbolu who disclosed during the press conference that surgical operation would also be carried out during the health programme said, “I can assure you that the mission will treat anybody that visits the centre for medical assistance. I also assure that as many as possible patients that need operation would be operated. The mission will accommodate as many as possible. No matter how bad your case is, it will be dealt with”, Ladigbolu said.

Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu, in the middle, supported by Chief Hassan Orantola and Prince Salau Olokijibi

He said that Bode Esuola and his wife, Dr. Commissioner Anu Esuola, through their company, Community Dentistry on Wheels international based in Maryland, USA, voluntarily donated a well-equipped $300,000.00 mobile hospital to Oyo metropolis and Oyo State as a legacy of Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111.

The co-coordinator of the festival further noted that the Esuolas who are natives of Oyo organised this medical and trade mission to Oyo State and Oyo metropolis not as part of the 2015 Oranyan festival alone, but to honour former governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi and Alaafin Adeyemi 111.

Archbishop Ladigbolu, the retired archbishop of Baptist mission who stated that the theme of this year’s Oranyan festival is “Healthcare in support of culture,” further emphasised that the Esuolas medical team had imported 40 containers of medical equipment and drugs for them to be able to achieve their assignments.

The leader of the team, Dr. (Mrs.) Anu Esuola, told journalists that the team is prepared to take care of about 3,000 patients. Dr. Esuola further noted that 60 patients had been set aside for free medical surgery that will take place before the week runs out.

The area where the team set to carry out surgical operation included Cleft lip, cleft palate, ameloblastomas, hernias, lumps, thyroid gland enlargement, uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts.

Oranmiyan (also known as Oranyan), was, according to Wikipedia, a Yoruba king from the kingdom of Ile-Ife and heir to Oduduwa.According to Yoruba history, he founded Oyo as its first Alaafin at around the year 1170. Oranyan festival which started in 2012, is therefore, organised yearly to mark the founding of Oyo and honour the town’s great ancestor.