Lagos relaunches Jigi-Bola, targets 250,000 residents

 

 

IBRAHIM QUADRI

 

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Thursday said not less than 250,000 residents are targeted for its free healthcare delivery progrmme tagged Jigi-Bola across the State.

 

The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Kadri Hamzat disclosed this during the flag off of the 4th Edition of BOSKOH Free Medical Outreach tagged: “Jigi-Bola Relaunch Phase II” at Police College, Ikeja.

 

The programme targeted to reach over 250,000 Lagosians in eight Local Government Areas Community Sites, eight Market Sites and eight Police Barracks.

 

There were not less than 961 volunteers who would be providing medical services across the outreach.

 

 

BOSKOH is an acronym for Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and Kadri Obafemi Hamzat Health Mission International, an initiative that commenced in 2019.

 

The Jigi-Bola Initiative started under the administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Governor of Lagos State. Its relaunch came this year to save lives from preventable blindness and restored beneficiaries back to their livelihood.

 

The relaunch of the Jigi-Bola Initiative in conjunction with BOSKOH Healthcare Mission International was borne out of the need to look after residents’ health and every part of their bodies.

 

Speaking during the flag off, the Deputy Governor said, “Through the BOSKHO Health Mission International, this administration has continued to lead the frontiers in delivering good healthcare as we took the bull by the horn, adding diagnosis for hearing-impairments and the provision of hearing-aids.

 

“Considering the status of Lagos as a megacity and our ever increasing population, the BOSKOH Health Mission Initiative targeted and identified 250,000 residents in need of visual and hearing aids at the third edition of the Jigi-Bola Re-launch and BOSKOH Health Mission Initiative held last year.

 

“In this Fourth Edition, BOSKOH Health Mission Initiative has made enough provision to carry out routine screening exercise on the residents across the 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs of the State.

 

“This Administration has also taken the bolder step by broadening the scope of the Health Mission to include other health provisions beyond the provision of visual and hearing aids programme to cater for the need of Lagosians whose health needs do not fall within visual and hearing impairments.

 

“Visiual and hearing loss are the most prevalent sensory disabilities globally, and we do not have to be apologetic about its growing number of cases, but to take deliberate actions in reducing the statistics in our dear State.

 

“Vision and hearing difficulties before they become impaired can be prevented with early detection, care and other medical interventions. Hence, it has become essential to continue in this direction with the BOSKOH Lagos Healthcare Mission International by re-stating our commitment to improve the well-being and welfare of our dear citizens.”

 

Hamzat explained that the World Health Organisation (WHO), asserted that “over two Billion people have a near or distant visual impairment, and at least, over One Billion or almost half of these cases could have been preventable.

 

“In Nigeria, according to International Centre for Eye Health, it is estimated that over 2.7 million adults aged between 40 years and above have moderate visual impairment, and additional 400,000 adults are severely, visually impaired.”

 

He therefore stated that, “This Free Sight and hearing Aid Programme taking place again today is aimed at improving and strengthening the State’s capacity for efficient eye and ear care delivery at the grassroots, and to ensure that Lagosians do not lose their vision and hearing organs when these could have been prevented.”

 

Similarly, the wife of the Governor, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu said, “The programme, since it was launched in 2001, contributed a great deal in achieving unparalleled impact in preventing blindness and correcting visual dysfunction, which is estimated to be a major health risk to residents.

 

“After a break of some years, the present administration of Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Ou, in partnership with the BOSKOH Health Mission International, decided that it was time to bring the initiative back in the best interest of the people, and most importantly, in line with the THEMES Agenda for a greater Lagos.

 

“Prior to Jigi-Bola’s re-launch last year, in February 2019 organized Medical Outreach for 20,000 residents, while in August 2019, the group partnered with the state government to launch the “Healthy Bee Project” with 200,000 Lagosians benefiting from the outreach and 85 successful cataract surgeries conducted in five days.”

 

She however commended the volunteers and partners who have decided to work with the state government to ensure the success of the initiative.