By Dipo Olowookere
Low-income earners in the country who which to enjoy quality dental services can now do so at affordable prices, thanks to Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc.
The company, as part of its social investment efforts to promote quality and affordable services in the health sector, recently renovated the dental clinics at the Faculty of Dental Sciences, College of Medicine, the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
The clinic has close to 100 dental resident doctors providing subsidized care to the public, especially low-income earners and remains one of the best centres for comprehensive dental care and management in Lagos.
The initiative is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) pillars, which align with the United Nations Social Development Goals (SDGs) for good health and well-being.
In 2018, Flour Mills commenced the first phase of the renovation process, with four dental units with funding of N35 million and a year later, the second phase had an additional bay of four dental units, while plans are in the works to commence the third phase.
At the official unveiling and handover ceremony of the first two dental bays to the institution recently, the Company Secretary and Director of Legal Services, Mr Joseph Umolu, explained that, “Our decision to renovate the dental clinics is primarily motivated by the desire to give back to our communities.
“As a socially responsible business, we are especially concerned about the health and well-being of Nigerians. We understand that poor dental health can have a profoundly, negative effect on not just our ability to eat but also on sensitive areas outside of the mouth, including the heart, and other chronic inflammation concerns.”
“With the upgraded facilities, the clinic will now be better equipped as a training facility for students and continue to offer subsidized dental care for its immediate environs as well as a referral centre for the management of all manners of dental diseases in the State primarily and Nigeria at large,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, Professor Oluranti daCosta, the Dean, Faculty of Dental Sciences, College of Medicine, UNILAG, thanked Flour Mills for the project, saying it “has made a remarkable change in our clinic and we are very excited to better serve our patients.”
“The new dental units and improved surgical departments will also enable a more conducive environment for us to work and for patients to undergo special care.
“We recently have also been reaccredited having received this support from Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc and we look forward to a continued collaboration with Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc,” the don said.
