File Photo of the 2017 edition of ‘The Eko Helath Mission Programme’
The Lagos State Government has announced plans to commence another round of its free medical expedition programme.
Tagged ‘The Eko Health Mission Programme’, the project offers free health services to residents including consultation and treatment for common ailments as well as screening for hypertension, diabetes, eye care and provision of eye glasses, dental care, family planning services, HIV counseling and testing amongst others.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris in a press statement released over the weekend noted that ‘the Eko Health Mission’ will hold between May 15 and the August 31, visiting selected local government and local council development areas of the State.
Idris added that the medical mission team would be visiting selected local government and local council development areas for three days each, starting from Ajeromi Local Government Secretariat Premises on Tuesday 15th to Thursday 17th May; Iba Local Council Development Secretariat Premises on Tuesday 22nd to Thursday 24th May, 2018 and Apapa-Ignamu Local Government Secretariat Premises on Wednesday 30th May to Friday 1st of June, 2018 at 9am daily.
“Other Local Government And Local Council Development Areas to be visited during the free medical expedition programme are Oriade, Lagos-Mainland, Lekki, Ejigbo, Ikoyi Obalende, Ikosi-Isheri, Ikosi-Ejirin and Agbado-Oke Odo local government and local council development areas.”, he said.
Explaining the rationale for embarking on the programme by the State government, the Commissioner said free health missions were embarked upon to serve as alternative source to increasing access to healthcare delivery especially to the people at the grassroots.
“The State Government is continuously finding ways to improve the health status of its ever-increasing population and the plan for achieving this is based on the health policy thrust which is guided by the noble goal that every Lagosian enjoys unfettered access to qualitative healthcare without any barrier whatsoever,” he said.
“These health missions are significant because they enable this administration to provide healthcare services to all who come irrespective of their age, gender, socioeconomic status and affiliations”, he added.
The Commissioner noted that the periodic organization of the free health missions is meant to also compliment the normal health delivery services in the State with the objective of addressing the pressing health issues of the rural communities in line with the State government’s free health policy.
He asured that the medical teams providing these services are competent professionals committed to ensuring that the mandate of the state government is fully realized.