The Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Lagos State, under the leadership of Alhaji Monsurudeen Oloyede Bello (OBE) has played host to the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu as she flagged off the Maternal, New-born, Child and Adolescent Health (MNCAH) Week at the Ejigbo LCDA Secretariat on Friday 2nd October 2020.
The week-long programme would run from 5th to 9th October 2020 and aims at reminding residents to take good care of their health and to publicize the free health care services available to vulnerable people in the community, 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 and designated areas in Lagos State.
Popularly referred to as “Mother of twenty million and more”, the wife of the Lagos State Governor explained that the event initially focused on mothers and children, but this time around, the State Government is extending the benefits to young adults. She outlined some of the benefits of the week-long event and encouraged everyone to spread the word for everyone to enjoy the benefits of the programme.
Mrs Sanwo-Olu discouraged the patronage of quack health officials, as well as traditional birth attendants. Instead, she encouraged the patronage of established Government health facilities.
“It is sad to note that a lot of our expectant mothers still patronise quacks who claim to be Traditional Birth Attendants, while illegally practising orthodox medicine. These quacks do nothing but to add sorrow to our people by killing their new-borns, pregnant teenage girls, under-five children and even expectant mothers who patronise them for treatment, delivery and illegal termination of pregnancies”.
To the residents of the Local Council, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu stated that cases have been made to the Governor in order to repair some of the bad roads and make movement easier for the 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. He further disclosed that all health facilities will be opened for consultation and services to all mothers, children under the age of five and adolescent boys and girls free of charge during the MNCAH week.
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 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 Council Chairman 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 of affordable health care, 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 New-born Child Health Week, Hypertension and Diabetes Screening, Yearly Breastfeeding Week, Free HIV/AIDS counselling and test
