No fewer than 700 patients suffering from various ailments on Sunday in Ilorin received free medical treatment from an Islamic Body, the Zakat and Sadakat Foundation.

Addressing newsmen, the Coordinator of the Programme, Mallam Abdullahi Shuaib, said the measure was designed to assist poor people, who could not afford medical bills for their treatment.

According to him, the foundation is determined to complement the efforts of the state government in health care delivery in realisation of the fact that government alone could not provide everything for the people.

Shuaib said the foundation was making use of money donated by Muslims as prescribed in Islam to buy drugs and other medicaments to support the programme.

He appealed to public-spirited-individuals and NGOs to complement government's efforts in the provision of health services and reduction of poverty.

The coordinator also said the foundation was committed to the promotion of primary health care services in the state.

In his remarks, the Medical Officer of the Programme, Dr. Bello Oyesola said the free treatment was in line with Islamic injunctions.

A beneficiary, Malam Abdulraheem Alagbede thanked the foundation for introducing the programme, saying it was helpful to the poor.