LASG URGES MEDICAL WOMEN ASSOCIATION TO INCREASE COMMUNITY AWARENESS
The Commissioner for Health in Lagos State, Dr. Jide Idris has urged members of the Medical Women Association of Nigeria, MWAN, Lagos State Chapter to increase community and public awareness to strengthen the welfare and health of Lagosians.
Idris gave the advice recently when members of the organisation paid him a courtesy visit in his office, urging them to collaborate and support the State Government in its efforts to provide unfettered healthcare services to Lagosians.
He tasked the group to carry out advocacy and awareness campaigns on maternal and child mortality reduction, malaria and cancer prevention as well as the Lagos State Health Scheme across the State to enlighten residents on the need to imbibe the right health attitude for maintaining personal and environmental hygiene to keep diseases at bay.
He disclosed that the State is focussed on the improvement of the health-seeking behavior of women of childbearing age, increasing the quality of care provided to pregnant women and children, enhancement of the knowledge and skills of health providers to render qualitative maternal and child health services and scaling up the utilisation of the Public Health facilities by citizens of the State.
While appreciating the efforts of the organisation in educating the populace on cancer-related diseases, the Commissioner solicited a more robust partnership, adding that government is leaving no stone unturned in creating awareness and screening for cancer, especially breast, cervix and prostate cancers as well as screening for hypertension and diabetes.
He said the State Government would soon roll out the Health Insurance Scheme which, according to him, aims at ensuring that all residents have access to affordable and quality health care.
“As the State prepares to formally roll-out the scheme, I enjoin MWAN to support and assist the State government in sensitising stakeholders on the key elements of the scheme, process of its implementation and the benefits”, he added.
In her remarks, the outgoing President of the Association, Dr. Omowunmi Bakare disclosed that the association, with no fewer than 31 State branches, is poised to serve humanity in pursuit of positive health programmes and projects throughout the State with special emphasis on women and children.
She commended the Lagos State Government for its outstanding health policies, programs and activities which according to her, were geared towards improving the health and welfare of the citizenry.