03082019 - Worsening Insecurity: Suspected herdsmen kill Catholic priest in Enugu

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2019
SHAME OF LAGOS
Vanguard Newspaper staff filling some portholes that
add to the menace of gridlock on Kirikiri Road.
The bad spots have been ignored by the state
authorities for more than a year, causing damage to
cars and leading to unbelievable traffic especially
when trucks get stuck there. PHOTOS: AKEEM SALAU
Sanwo-Olu kicks off free healthcare for children
LAGOS State Gover
nor, Mr Babajide
Sanwo-Olu, on Friday,
flagged off a free healthcare
programme aimed at
combating organ impairment
and life-threatening
ailments in children.
The initiative tagged
“Healthy Bee Project” is a
component of the Governor’s
development agenda
to reposition healthcare
and give disadvantaged
children access to quality
medical care.
The free medical mission
is organised in collaboration
with Babajide Olusola
Sanwo-Olu Kadiri
Obafemi Hamzat (BOSK-
OH) Healthcare Mission
International, a non-governmental
organisation
(NGO).
The four-week programme
will commence
with a six-day screening in
seven Primary Healthcare
Centres (PHCs) across the
state, after which those
whose conditions require
higher medical examinations
and surgeries will be
taken to the tertiary healthcare
facilities for the exercise
free of charge.
Flagging off the healthcare
project at a ceremony
held at LTV Blue Roof in
Agidingbi, Governor Sanwo-Olu,
represented by
his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi
Hamzat, said the programme
was purposely
designed to keep children
fit for their study and activities
that would make
them attain their potential.
He encouraged parents
to utilise the opportunity to
take their children for
screening and treatment
for medical conditions that
can limit their mental and
physical development.
He said: “If children lack
access to good health facilities
and quality medical
attention, they might
lose their ability and functionality.
We want to help
them fight ailments that
can put them at disadvantage.
This is the reason the
programme is essential to
make sure our children
live a good and fulfilling
life.
“On behalf of the people
of Lagos State and for the
benefit of our children in
Lagos and on behalf of the
Governor of Lagos State, I
flag off this programme for
the benefit of our children.”
The First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke
Sanwo-Olu, noted
that the intention of the
medical mission was borne
out of the commitment of
the Lagos Government to
bring down the rate of
childhood diseases and
disabilities.
She said children whose
By Olasunkanmi Akoni
& Monsuru Olowoopejo
LAGOS State Gover
nor Babajide Sanwo-
Olu, yesterday, disclosed
plans to pull down illegal
structures sited along
pipelines within the community
and other parts of
the state.
Barely a month at least
12 persons died from
pipeline explosion in Ijegun
axis, of Ikotun- Igando
Local Council Development
Area, LCDA, old
Alimosho, Lagos, as a result
of activities of vandals
who burst pipeline to
siphon petroleum product.
Sanwo-Olu added that
the move has become necessary
following several
investigations into the
upsurge in pipeline vandalisation
in the state.
conditions required advanced
care would be examined
by a team of children
health experts and
surgeons from the United
States, Europe and Nigeria
who are volunteers in
the mission.
She said: “As a mother
and Medical Doctor, I understand
the momentous
mileage we stand to gain
from this strategic intervention
championed by the
State Government in partnership
with BOSKOH
Lagos Healthcare Mission
International, and I must
say I fully align myself
with this all-important
medical mission.
“Anything we do for our
children today will definitely
play a key role in the
adults they grow to become
in future, and this
Healthy Bee Project is specially
targeted at building
a critical mass of healthy
children and adults in the
State.”
The First Lady said there
would also be free screening
for tuberculosis, hepatitis
and HIV/AIDS for
adults.
Executive Director of the
NGO, Mrs. Nike Osai,
praised the Lagos government
for approving the
medical intervention,
stressing that it was an investment
the state would
not regret.
She said part of the objectives
of the partnership
was to enable Lagos government
meet the Item
Three of the Sustainable
Development Goals
IJEGUN EXPLOSION: We’ll demolish illegal
structures along pipelines — LASG
•Assures 24hrs waterways patrol to forestall kidnapping
The governor made the
remarks, while briefing
newsmen after the
monthly security meeting,
held at the State
House, Alausa, Ikeja,
which had in attendance
security chiefs in the
state.
According to Sanwo-
Olu, “Security reports
showed that the structures
have continued to
aid vandals in destruction
of Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation,
NNPC, pipeline within
the state.”
While stressing that the
exercise was targeted at
restoring the original
master plan, he said that
the state government
would be working with all
security agencies including
Nigeria Security and
Civil Defence Corps,
NSCDC, to remove illegal
structures.
“During the meeting,
we discussed the incident
around pipeline
vandalism which brought
us down last month. We
have resolved among ourselves
that we will stop at
nothing, including engaging
the communities
where these facilities, to
give our people assurance.
“The government is
coming to remove those
structures and destroy
those facilities. In their
own interest, they should
start removing them before
we come. We have
mapped out the layout of
the places where the
property are. And we
have decided to collaborate
with NSCDC and
NNPC to achieve the desired
goal,” the governor
added.
(SDGs), which is to realise
universal health coverage
for children and reduce
poverty.
She said: “The Government
of Lagos recognises
the prime place of children
in the survival of humanity.
This is the reason the Sanwo-Olu
government
graciously offered to collaborate
with Healthcare
Mission International to
make our children healthier.
The programme will involve
screening children for
visual and hearing impairments,
and other ailments
that can negatively impede
their capacity to study.
“Those found to have visual
or hearing impairments
will be provided with glasses
and hearing aids to help
them overcome the condition.
Even though children
are the prime targets of this
programme, vulnerable
adults will also be given
health counselling and
LAGOS State Gover
nor Babajide Sanwo-
Olu has urged the government
house correspondents
to be professional
in the discharge of
their duty, while calling
for a “fair reportage” of
his administration’s activities.
screening for tuberculosis
and HIV. Those found to be
positive will be managed
using the established
channel of treatment of
these illnesses.”
Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Health, Mrs.
Titilayo Goncalves said the
programme signalled the
implementation phase of
Sanwo-Olu’s healthcare
initiative.
She said the medical
outreach was targeted at
children between ages 0 to
12, stressing that the choice
of the demographic was
strategic, because of the
need to protect the children
from sickness that may
impede their potential.
The healthcare programme
will be carried out
at Ajara PHC in Badagry,
Akerele PHC in Surulere,
Ikotun PHC in Alimosho, Iga
Iduganran PHC on Lagos
Island, Epe PHC in Epe, Onigbongo
PHC in Ikeja, and
Ita-Elewa PHC in Ikorodu.
Excitement as Sanwo-Olu visits
Govt House correspondents
Sanwo-Olu spoke
when he led senior government
officials, including
his deputy, Dr.
Obafemi Hamzat; Head
of Service, Mr Hakeem
Muri-Okunola; and Secretary
to the State Government,
Mrs. Folashade
Jaji, on a courtesy visit to
the State House correspondents
at Bagauda
Kaltho Press Centre on
Tuesday.
The Press Centre is the
operation base of all reporters,
under the aegis
of Lagos Governor’s Office
Correspondents
(LAGOCO), who are covering
activities of the Lagos
government.
The Governor’s entourage
included the Chief
of Staff, Mr. Tayo Ayinde,
his deputy, Mr. Gboyega
Soyannwo, and Permanent
Secretary of the
Ministry of Information,
Mr. Fola Adeyemi.
The Deputy Chief Press
Secretary to the Governor,
Mr. Gboyega Akosile,
said Sanwo-Olu’s
visit to the Press Centre
was a move by the Governor
to familiarise himself
with the people who
are having day-to-day interface
with the activities
of his government.