Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has enjoined Lagosians to embrace lifestyle changes and habits that promote good health saying such changes would increase their wellbeing and reduce the need to visit hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
Fielding questions from Government House Correspondents after a visit to the Isheri-Ikosi Local Council Development Area Secretariat to witness the on-going Statewide Free Hypertension/Diabetes Screening and Awareness Programme, Governor Fashola said good health habits and lifestyles form the major plank on which the State’s Preventive Healthcare System is built.
“Changes in health patterns and behaviour will help prolong life. They form the fulcrum of preventive healthcare system” Governor Fashola said, adding that the on-going programme is part of the commitment by his administration to strengthen the primary healthcare delivery in the State.
“It is part of our commitment to primary healthcare which is the foundation of our Healthcare delivery system. If we get it right at this level, it increases the wellbeing of our people on an overall scale and reduces the need to visit the secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities”, the Governor said.
Noting that the exercise is going on simultaneously in all the Local Government and Local Council Development Areas of the State, Governor Fashola described it as a wholesome healthcare delivery package where, aside testing people for Hypertension and Diabetes, immunizing children and running ante-natal clinics, drugs are dispensed to patients where necessary.
The Governor commended health officers and other stakeholders responsible for running the programme saying it is the foundational healthcare and the heart of preventive medicine which, according to him “is our objective and our commitment to help prolong the life of our people”.
Earlier, while conducting Governor Fashola round at the exercise venue, Special Adviser on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina, told the Governor that to date over 40, 000 people have been screened throughout the State since the exercise began.
She told the Governor that the process starts from registration by those who want to be screened where there correct data are taken adding that after registration, they go to the screening section where a team of doctors screened them for Hypertension and Diabetes.
“If they are found to be free of all of the diseases, they are then counseled to continue in their good health habits but where any of the ailments is discovered, the patient goes to the pharmacy section where drugs are administered and the patient is also counseled on what to do to control the particular health issue. The Statewide Free Hypertension/Diabetes Screening and Awareness Programme which began on Tuesday, April 10, 2012, will end on Monday, April 16, 2012.
Also on hand to receive the Governor were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Femi Olugbile, Directors in the Ministry of Health and officials of Isheri-Ikosi Local Council Development Authority.
