Health
Give Lagosians Your Best, Sanwo-Olu’s wife Tells BOSKOH Volunteers as Outreach Commences Tomorrow
Sanwo-Olu’s wife tells BOSKOH Volunteers to give Lagosians their best, as outreach commences tomorrow
The First Lady of Lagos State, Dr (Mrs) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has encouraged the volunteers participating in the fourth edition of the Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat Healthcare Mission International (BOSKOH HMI) to offer only excellent service to the beneficiaries of the programme.
She said this at the Volunteers’ Training which took place at the weekend at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Lagos.
Dr Sanwo-Olu also praised the organisers for exponentially growing the number of volunteers year-after-year.
“We started this program in February 2019 and we had 150 volunteers and this year, the volunteers have grown to an impressive 961,” she said.
“I encourage you all to take your training seriously because your patients rely on your expertise. When you go out to the communities, remember you are ambassadors of BOSKOH and put in your best effort.”
On her part, the Executive Director of BOSKOH HMI, Mrs. Nike Osa, thanked the sponsors of the initiative, and explained the reason behind this year’s theme.
“The Governor and his Deputy came together with one vision and created this medical mission to reach out to Lagosians and help them,” she said. The giving of eyeglasses in Lagos was started by Former Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and was called ‘Jigi Bola.’ Our governor, Mr. Sanwo-Olu, thought it necessary to relaunch ‘Jigi Bola’ and make Lagosians aware of the importance of regular eye checks; hence, the theme for this year is ‘‘Jigi Bola Relaunch’.
“It’s been four years of imparting lives positively and it’s free. The program would be taken to various local government areas in Lagos such as Surulere, Mushin, Shomolu, Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, and Etiosa LGA. We are asking Lagosians to come out and receive these volunteers and get free treatment.”
BOSKOH is a free medical and wellness mission for Lagosians in partnership with the Lagos State government that commenced in 2019. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will flag off this year’s edition tomorrow, Thursday, July 21 at the Police College, Ikeja.
Professor of Mental Health and Behavioural Science, Ayodele Olurotimi Coker, delivered a presentation at the training and talked about mental health, mental disorders, consequences of mental health, depression, mania, drug use, and drug addiction.
He also highlighted psychological, environmental, social, and biological factors that could lead to mental disorders.
Mrs Onyinye Nnabuchi, who was a beneficiary of the free service two years ago was so impacted by the programme that she transformed herself from beneficiary to volunteer.
“Two years ago, one of my children had an ailment and we were told we would have to take her abroad for surgery. I met a friend who introduced me to the BOSKOH program and I was invited for the successful surgery, which was free. My baby was not talking then, but she can talk now very well and I decided that moment I wanted to be a volunteer.” The training was attended by seasoned healthcare administrators including the Chairman of Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Ibrahim Akinwunmi Mustafa.
Health
Enhancement of Military Health Services: Matawalle Meets U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Health
In a significant move to bolster Defence Health Services and strengthen the partnership between the United States and Nigeria, the Minister of State for Defence, H.E. Dr. Muhammad Bello Matawalle, met with a U.S. delegation led by Dr. David Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Health.
A statement endorsed by Henshaw Ogubike, director of Information and PR at the Ministry, shows that the the meeting focused on enhancing the existing collaboration in defence health between the two nations, which has previously facilitated the establishment of high-tech laboratories in Nigeria.
The Honourable Minister commended the U.S. for their efforts and urged for the expansion of these medical facilities beyond Abuja and Lagos to reach more derserved regions.
Dr. Matawalle emphasized the strategic integration of health services to improve the welfare of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, stating, “A healthy military is the backbone of a strong nation.” He reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that military personnel have access to top-tier healthcare services and facilities. To this end, he called for an increase in the defence budget allocated to health, viewing it as a vital investment in the nation’s future and stability.
Furthermore, the Minister highlighted that these initiatives align with Nigeria’s broader commitment to enhancing military readiness while addressing public health challenges that affect both service members and the civilian population. He noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is dedicated to improving healthcare for military personnel and civilians, recognizing healthcare as a cornerstone of national security.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana mni, stated that this initiative would positively impact military health and serve as a model for strengthening Nigeria’s overall healthcare system. “This collaboration marks a turning point for Nigeria’s defence health system,” he asserted.
Dr. Smith praised the Minister for his proactive approach to health readiness, underscoring the critical connection between health systems and military effectiveness. “Health is as crucial as any weapon system in ensuring military success, and we are committed to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to enhance its defence health system,” he remarked.
The U.S. delegation is in Nigeria to further advance initiatives aimed at sustaining progress against HIV, accelerating efforts towards the United Nations’ 95-95-95 goals, and working towards the elimination of HIV as a public health threat by 2030.
Health
Neptune Prime publisher to unveil cancer clinic, school, foundation for late journalists’ families as son weds in Yobe
The publisher of Neptune Prime newspapers, Dr Hassan Gimba, has announced plans to commission three major projects in his home state, Yobe State
In an invitation letter sent to newsmen on Wednesday, the publisher disclosed that the event, which is scheduled to take place on August 31, is coinciding with the wedding Fatiha of his son, Barrister Suleiman Gimba.
According to the letter, the wedding Fatiha will take place by 11:00am at the residence of Mohammed Babate, Behind Water Board, Army Barracks, Potiskum.
“Immediately after the wedding Fatihah, we will be commissioning the Hafsatu Gimba Ahmed Memorial School located at VIO Street, Unguwar Jaji, Potiskum.
“This institution is dedicated to the memory of my late mother, aiming to serve the educational needs of our community,” the letter noted.
Dr Gimba added that as part of the launch programme, the Abubakar Monja Lifeline Foundation for Late Journalists’ Families, which he founded to cater to the families of journalists who have passed away, will be empowering youths it trained in tailoring and plumbing.
“Additionally, I would like to invite you to inspect the ongoing construction of the Lami Fatima Babare Cancer Outreach and Clinic situated nearby, also in Unguwar Jaji.
“The clinic is an initiative of the Lami Fatima Babare Cervical Cancer Foundation, which was founded in 2020 – in memory of my late wife, Lami Fatima Babare – to provide medical services and referrals to cancer patients,” the letter noted.
The Enugu State Government has announced its intention to revamp the existing infrastructural facilities to give the Enugu State College of Health Technology in Oji River a face-lift and also scale-up institution to a technology-savvy citadel of learning.
The government made this known during a meeting with the management, staff, and students of the institution at the Enugu State Government House at the weekend, stressing its commitment to ensuring quality health service delivery in the state.
The government, which made this known through the Special Adviser on Health Matters, Dr. Yomi Jaye, also asked the students of the institution to go back to school and continue with their academic calendar, as all those involved in the recent breach of security in the school’s neighborhood had been rounded up and now facing the law.
The governor equally gave the college management a two-week ultimatum to develop a workplan, which the government would work on to ensure that the school functions at its optimum level.
Briefing Government House correspondents after the meeting, Dr. Jaye said, “We interacted with the management, staff and students of the Enugu State College of Health Technology, Orji River, to come up with a strategic plan to revamp the college and restore its lost glory.
His Excellency, Governor Peter Mbah, has expressed his willingness not only to revamp the school, but to upscale it to a technology-savvy teaching community.
“As you can see, the government is bullish about building Type-2 Healthcare Centre in each of the 260 wards and this college will produce some of the qualified workers that will deliver quality healthcare services to Ndi Enugu.
“We appeal to the parents and guardians to allow the students to go back to school and resume their academic activities as more security personnel have been deployed to make sure that both Oji River and its neighbouring communities are properly secured.
“It is also important to inform you that those who perpetrated the security breach have since been arrested and the victims, which included one student, also freed,” he maintained.
Also speaking, the Provost of the College, Dr. Lazarus Ezugwu, expressed his happiness over the state government’s move to revamp the institution, saying he was optimistic that the glory of the institution would be restored in no distant time.
When commending Governor Peter Mbah and the security agencies for their swift response to the recent security breach at the College, he also confirmed that security had been strengthened around the institution and Oji River in general.
“The meeting is such a commendable one. It goes a long way in telling us the type of visionary leader we have in the state. To be sincere, the total overhaul that will be done in the college is going to be enormous. What is coming to the college cannot be imagined because the governor has shown both special interest and political will. This is what we have been yearning for, for so many years,” Dr. Ezugwu stated.
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