Group takes medical outreach to Lagos community

Over 200 women in Makoko, a settlement located on the coast of mainland Lagos, have benefited from the health drive of a non-governmental organisation, Sustainable Development Goals for Her Initiative, in partnership with Total Health Trust and Alternative Bank’s Food Bank project.

The outreach took place in the community on Thursday and featured health talk, diagnosis and preventive healthcare for women and children to assess their needs.

Founder of SDGforHer, Hannah Ayilaran-Omon, said the organisation had impacted over 1,500 women and children in the last 10 months.

“We have spoken to leaders and locals and a lot of them say these women are still dependent on traditional medicine, so there is still so much to be done. It’s better when infections and diseases are fought early,” she said.

“In partnership with our HMOs, we have given them cards and we will review the data that we got from here to see those who need help from their medical diagnosis, then we will have a follow-up to provide solutions, based on the data we gather.”

Head of Corporate Social Investment at Alternative Bank, Solomon Okonkwo, said there needed to be a more collaborative effort to ensure women and children in such areas got help.

“We believe so much in partnerships and empowering the community that we serve. We look at how we can limit barriers by also empowering them financially with our sustainable solutions they can have access to.”

In his remarks, Dr. Eyitayo Abejide of Total Health Trust said, “We are partnering with SDGforHer towards two of the sustainable goals, no poverty and ensuring that people are healthy. We are doing this because we believe in them, not just for women but for everybody.”

One of the beneficiaries, Adedayo Kolade, a widow, who spoke on behalf of the women, thanked SDGforHer and their partners for the outreach.

Some of the checkups that were done include blood pressure, blood sugar,  Body Mass Index as well as ante-natal checks for pregnant women.