Benjamin Omoike l Wednesday, March 08, 2017
LAGOS, Nigeria – No fewer than 5,865 residents of Ojo Local Government, Oto-Awori and Iba Local Development Council Development Areas of Lagos State have benefited from the first phase of on-going Lagos Health Mission programme.
The scheme is a medical intervention sponsored by the State government to provide free healthcare services to residents of Lagos across the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas of the State.
Residents of the areas were screened and managed for non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. Common ailments such as eye diseases and dental problems were managed. The programme also offered ante-natal care services as well as family planning services to persons of reproductive age. HIV screening and counseling sessions were part of the health package.
Statistics obtained from the first phase of the health mission carried out between Monday 1 and Wednesday 3 March, this year, showed that 4,119 people were attended to as General Out-Patients for common ailments and complaints, hypertension and diabetes screening and management; 358 others were also seen and attended to at the Dental Unit, 930 people were screened and treated at the Eye Unit and 458 others screened and counseled at the HIV unit.
Expressing appreciation to the Lagos State Government, one of the beneficiaries of the programme, Mrs. Aishat Adeleye, who was screened and managed for hypertension said the intervention offered through the medical mission was a form of succor especially to poor residents who could not afford the cost of accessing medical care at health facilities.
“With initial doubts in my mind, I came here after I heard about the programme from my neighbour but I was amazed at the level of coordination I saw here. I was ushered well to the section where I was attended to and got my medications at no cost,” she added.
Another beneficiary, Mr. Chidozie Onyewuchi, who was seen and treated at the Dental Unit gave kudos to the team of medical personnel who attended to him. He added that the relief that came with extraction of his tooth was awesome.
For Alhaji Niniola Muyideen; a 65-year old beneficiary who was treated at the General Out-patient department for complaints of body and joint aches, stated that the free health services offered by the State government could not have come at a better time than now where the cost of accessing care is very high.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who spoke to newsmen on the importance of the programme, noted that the State Government was continuously finding ways to improve the health status of its ever-increasing population adding that the plan for achieving this was based on the Health Policy Thrust of the State which is guided by the noble goal that every Lagosian enjoys unfettered access to qualitative healthcare without any barrier whatsoever.
Idris disclosed that the strategies adopted in implementing these policies includes the introduction and provision of various programs that have direct impact on the health outcome of Lagosians stressing that these programs are geared towards promoting health, detecting diseases early and offering treatment and rehabilitation.
He posited that the overarching goal now is ensuring that residents have access to Universal Health Coverage adding that the Ministry of Health is working tirelessly to develop and implement strategies, programs, interventions and initiatives to improve the health outcome of all Lagosians.
