The Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Lagos State, under the leadership of Alh. (Hon.) Monsurudeen Oloyede Bello (OBE), has hosted the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, as she flags-off the Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (MNCAH) Week.
MNCAH Week, which would run between Monday the 5th and Friday 9th October, 2020, is aimed at reminding us to take good care of our health, and publicizing the free health services available to the vulnerable people, as well as celebrate lives and focus on the health of Lagosians. The week long activity would be held simultaneously across all Primary Health Care (PHC) Clinics in Lagos State.
The flag-off ceremony was held at the Ejigbo LCDA Secretariat, on Friday 2nd October, 2020.
Popularly referred to as “Mother of twenty million and more”, the wife of the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, explained that the event was initially focused on mothers and children, but this time around, the State Government is extending the benefits to young adults. She stated some of the benefits of the week-long event, and encouraged all and sundry to spread the word, so that a large number of people would enjoy the benefits.
The lover-of-children then went on to discourage the patronage of quack health officials, as well as traditional birth attendants. Instead, she encouraged the patronage of established government health facilities.
To the residents of the Local Council, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu stated that cases have been made to Mr. Governor in order to repair some of the bad roads and make movement easier for people.
Representing the Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mr. Olusegun Ogboye, appreciated the Ejigbo LCDA Chairman for making the flag-off ceremony a success.
On his part, the representative of the United Nations body in Lagos State, Mr. Omoseyin Omotosho, encouraged all, especially mothers, that pregnancy should be by choice, not by chance, hence Family Planning should be taken seriously.
In his speech, the Ejigbo Council Boss stated that “strengthening of the Primary Health Care (PHC) system, not just the PHC Clinics, is the surest way to attain the Universal Health Coverages and also accelerate the targets set for the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in 2030”.
In the last 1080 days, the OBE-led administration in partnership with the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative, has commissioned Family Planning Equipment at Moshalashi and Jakande PHCs. The LCDA has also renovated and equipped the Moshalashi PHC for more optimal and effective performance. In order to increase the quality health care being provided, the Bucknor PHC was also constructed.
Ejigbo LCDA has also embarked on various health programmes such as: Deworming of all school children within the LCDA, free treatment of Malaria, Typhoid and other prevalent ailments, National Immunization Plus Days, Material Newborn Child Health Week, Hypertension and Diabetes Screening, Yearly Breastfeeding Week, Free HIV/
AIDS counselling and testing, e.t.c.
While expressing immense joy and happiness, the wife of the Council Chairman, Alhaja Fatima Bello, presented a 5feel picture frame