Markets are generally known for the hustle and bustle of buying and selling. It is rare to see regular medical activities – checkups, treatment, and professional medical advisory – in the marketplace, save for emergencies. Just do a personal reflection for a moment: how often do you see doctors in their lab coats providing health services in the market place? Well, the answer is a simple one – not often.
But something interesting is happening. MTN Nigeria through its social investment vehicle is challenging the status quo by taking healthcare to the marketplace. The first benefiting markets in this new initiative are buyers and sellers in New Layout Market, Borokiri and Rumuwoji Market (Mile 1 Ultra-Modern Market) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Similar to what obtains in a proper medical facility, the MTN Market Doctor programme is structured into various departments including nursing station, doctor’s station, and pharmacy providing free blood pressure checkups and necessary drugs to all beneficiaries.
Interestingly, buyers and sellers at the markets briefly suspended their primary assignments and trooped to the designated points to consult the doctors for medical examination and other medical services. The delight and satisfaction of the market men and women were evident in their expressions.
One of the beneficiaries, Ibiene Justina Akalugbo while appreciating MTN Foundation stated, “I am really happy for what is happening today at New Layout Market. MTN came to the market to give us free medical treatment and the traders in New Layout Market are very happy because some people don’t even have money to go to clinic talk less of the health centres but today, MTN has brought medical services to us here.”
