Health
FG, Oyo Join Forces Against Cervical Cancer
By Dipo Olowookere
The Federal Government has promised to work with Oyo State Government in finding a lasting solution to the high rate of cervical cancer prevalence in the state.
The Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, made the promise while delivering a lecture at a symposium organized by Access to Basic Medical Care (ABC) Foundation founded by the wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, in Ibadan on Friday.
The symposium, which was organized to mark the third anniversary of the Foundation, was attended by eminent personalities including the Oyo State Governor, Mr Abiola Ajimobi and wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode.
Others are the wife of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mrs Bisi Fayemi, Emeritus Professor Oladipo Akinkugbe; Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital, Prof Temitope Alonge, as well as other top medical and health officials across the country.
Prof Adewole, while praising the foundation’s initiative in providing cervical cancer screening for people, said it was the third in the whole of Africa to have the equipment for the screening of the dreaded disease.
He said in spite of the socio-economic conditions which had made access to healthcare service difficult for people, his ministry would partner the government to take qualitative healthcare delivery to the nooks and crannies of the state.
Prof Adewole said, “While appreciating the gesture of ABC Foundation in helping to care for the common people, I want to posit that this service will be better if it is extended to the rural populace in form of primary healthcare services.
“I want to assure you all that my ministry will collaborate with Oyo State Government in achieving this. You have taken a huge step and we will encourage you. The involvement of private citizens like you in healthcare delivery is a welcome development.
“This is one of the best ways to decongest the teaching hospitals. Because experience has shown that people present cases like headache, backache and skin rashes at teaching hospitals, which has made the facilities and the personnel to be overstretched.
“The Federal Government will soon start giving vaccines to people to stem mortality rate occasioned by lack of access to screening and cure for the disease. I want to state that state hospitals will be put into better use with this partnership.”
The Minister described cervical cancer as a sexually-transmitted disease, assuring that it could be prevented and cured if detected early.
In his address, Governor Ajimobi eulogized the foundation for giving succour to the needy and for partnering his administration in delivering good healthcare services to the people of the state.
He called on individuals and corporate bodies to see the cervical cancer scourge as a monster that must be frontally confronted and defeated.
The Governor also charged the FG and the foundation to make far-reaching information dissemination technique the foundation upon which the fight against the disease would be based.
Mr Ajimobi said, “Let us together change our health environment. What ABC is doing is a good example of an individual making the difference. Let us all use our influence to enhance healthcare delivery in our locality.
“This is a challenge to all of us to make a difference in our sphere of influence. And in this regard I want to urge the FG to take the lead in using information, education and communication strategy to create awareness on these deadly diseases.
“We have to let our people know, because many people are dying arising from ignorance. The states and local governments should collaborate with the FG for mass enlightenment of our people on early presentation of cases at standard health facilities.”
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Prof Oladipo Akinkungbe, lauded the foundation’s initiative.
He added that he had no doubt about the viability and sustainability of ABC given the international partnership it had attracted as well as the commitment and passion of the founder and her husband.
He called for the interpretation of some basic medical data and transmission of same to the mass populace in order to stop the spread of the disease.
Prof Akinkugbe said, “Prevention is the name of the game. The salvation of the country lies more in preventive healthcare than in theory.
“It is depressing to see the mortality rate when prevention should have taken place. It is, therefore, important to make more medical data available in an understandable form for rural people to understand.
“Through this, people will be able to understand the disease and we would have been able to tackle the menace of cervical cancer, among other deadly diseases.”
In her address, the founder of ABC expressed happiness with the success so far recorded by the foundation, particularly the impact it had made in the lives of the people.
Thanking the foundation’s partners for their support, the governor’s wife assured that she would not rest on her laurels until the initiative was taken to greater heights.
Mrs Ajimobi said “It is my belief that today’s programme will spur those who have roles to play in bringing cervical cancer to zero level.”
“It is pertinent to mention that the foundation has offered free cervical cancer screening to over 3,000 women, while over 500 have had access to follow up services and treatment of the disease.
“I want to use this medium to call on all women to take charge of their health and to support all the initiatives targeted at creating more awareness about the disease so as to reduce it to a zero level and possibly eradicate it,” she added.
The Guest Lecturer, Prof Oluwarotimi Akinola gave insight into the cause, effect and possible solutions to the scourge of cervical cancer.
According to him, indiscriminate sexual lifestyle, circumcision, socio-cultural and socio-economic status, dietary factor and lack of awareness are among the major causes of the disease in the country.
He stressed the need for early detection through screening as a way of stopping the dreaded disease.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The dream of residents of Ikeja and its environs enjoying affordable and quality care has now become a reality as a result of the opening of a new branch of SpecSMART Eye Clinic in the Opebi area of the capital of Lagos State.
SpecSMART Eye Clinic, a leading provider of optometry services in Lagos, commenced operations in Nigeria’s commercial capital in 2022.
Since then, it has been offering top-notch eye care to residents of the metropolis, especially those living on the Island. It has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality primary eye care and optical products.
However, to extend its services to Lagosians living on the Mainland, it has now opened a new branch in Ikeja, reinforcing its commitment to providing accessible, affordable eye care to a wider community.
Business Post gathered that the clinic’s state-of-the-art services are supported by a team of skilled optometrists and opticians, utilizing cutting-edge digital equipment.
The new Ikeja location will offer a wide range of services, including Automated Eye Examinations using advanced digital equipment for precise diagnosis and personalized care.
In addition, clients will enjoy on-the-spot lens glazing for single vision, bifocals, and varifocals, with additional lens coatings, with services to be rendered seven days a week from 9 am to 9 pm on Mondays to Saturdays, and on Sundays and public holidays from 10 am 7 pm.
Also, the clinic has over 950 frames, ranging from affordable home brands to premium designer options, priced from N18,000, and has flexible appointment scheduling with 24-hour online booking via SpecSMART’s website.
The facility has partnerships with leading HMO providers in the country and offers glaucoma management and other essential eye health services.
According to the company, its introductory packages start from N30,000 and include consultation, frame, and single-vision lenses.
“With the opening of our Ikeja branch, we are ready to serve more individuals who need accessible, cost-effective, and reliable eye care.
“Our aim is to create a positive impact in Nigeria’s optometry sector by combining advanced technology with a patient-centred approach,” the Practice Head and Medical Director of SpecSMART, Dr Adaeze Nwoko, stated.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has commenced the vaccination against Monkeypox, now known as Mpox.
Business Post reports that Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Benue, and the Federal Capital Territory, were selected as pilot states for the vaccination.
An average of 631 persons are expected to be vaccinated across the seven states with two doses of the Mpox vaccine. A buffer for 50 persons will be kept at the national in case of an upsurge in other states.
NPHCDA in a statement posted on its verified X account confirmed the exercise, stressing that the vaccination will help to protect communities and safeguarding health of the people.
In a related development, according to the latest update by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), there are 1,442 suspected cases of Mpox from 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, while the number of confirmed cases of the infection was 118 from 28 states and the FCT.
“To prevent the spread of Mpox, we strongly advise the public to avoid contact with animals that may carry the virus, including sick or dead animals in affected areas, avoid handling materials that have been in contact with infected animals, limit unnecessary physical contact with individuals who are infected, practice frequent handwashing with soap and water, and ensure that animal food products are thoroughly cooked before eating.
“It’s also important to use protective clothing and gloves when handling sick animals or their tissues. Similarly, health workers are advised to follow standard safety protocols including droplet precautions when treating patients, use protective equipment including masks, gloves, and gowns, during patient care, and be vigilant for symptoms of Mpox, especially fever and rash, among other measures.”
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Over 250 pints of blood have been donated by AXA Mansard Health to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba.
The blood was donated by more than 100 employees of the leading health insurance company in Nigeria through its volunteering programme tagged AXA Hearts in Action.
The initiative is part of the company’s blood donation drive aimed at contributing to positive societal and environmental impacts through employee volunteering, and expertise related financial support and in-kind donations.
According to the Chief Client Officer of AXA Mansard, Ms Rashidat Adebisi, “Through the AHIA, our employees do not just give time to great causes; we work together for a better future.”
“We share our time, knowledge and expertise as a people with a shared purpose of acting for human progress by protecting what matters through initiatives like this,” she added.
Ms Adebisi said the blood drive is a shining example of the philosophy in action, where collective contributions serve as a reminder that true impact often involves giving more than just money. It’s about putting one’s heart in action – an idea embedded in AXA’s corporate culture.
On his part, the chief executive of AXA Mansard Health Limited, Mr Tope Adeniyi, said with hospitals frequently experiencing blood shortages, events like these serve as a lifeline for patients in need.
“We are proud to contribute to the local healthcare sector and provide much-needed support to hospitals such as LUTH, ensuring that they have resources essential to saving lives,” he added.
Also commenting, the Head of Corporate Services and Public Relations at LUTH, Omolola Olubukunola Fakeye, thanked the firm for the “generous support,” which has made a “meaningful difference to our blood bank and ultimately to the lives of patients.”
“Blood donations are invaluable in many critical treatments, and initiatives like AXA Mansard’s blood drive bring immense relief to healthcare system.
“We are sincerely grateful for this partnership and the dedication of AXA Mansard’s employees,” Fakeye stated.
AXA Hearts in Action operates globally, she urging AXA employees everywhere to engage with and give back to their communities.
Through diverse projects – from health initiatives like this blood drive and medical outreaches to environmental efforts like the AXA Week for Good “Trash-to-Treasure” waste management project – AXA staff have opportunities to make a lasting difference on issues that matter.
For AXA Mansard, every act of social service brings them closer to the communities they serve, helping build a world where giving back is not only about charity but about lasting, positive change.
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