As part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR), Lift Above Poverty Organization (LAPO), a non-governmental organization in partnership with the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), has provided free medical services to over 195 pupils of indigent families in Egor Primary School in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State.
Delivering an address at the 18th edition of the medical outreach, last Friday, Executive Director of LAPO, Dr Obadiora Honestus said in 2015 LAPO institutionalized the medical outreach as a direct response to health challenges, which has played a major role in addressing maternal and child health challenges in Nigeria, occasioned by the deepening poverty conundrum.
Dr Obadiora, who was represented by his secretary, Mrs. Awawu Agun, said a total of 16,019 persons have benefitted from the community health outreaches since its inception in 2015.
According to him, LAPO, in 2022 improved the health conditions of 1,658,207 (492,466 males and 1,165,741 females) vulnerable community members across the country in partnership with the LAPO Microfinance Bank Limited.
“A total of 70,876 (16,868 males and 54,008 females) received direct health sensitization and screening services while 1,354,010 (417,921 males and 936,089 females) were reached through media campaign information, education and communication materials,” he said.
“Under the LAPO community health outreach campaign for cancer control (LAPO -C4) project being implemented in Lagos, Rivers, Edo, Imo and Abuja, the organization reached 3,368,142 community members with cancer awareness and basic breast, cervical and prostate cancer screening between 2016 and 2022, in partnership with community based organizations (CBOs) as a total of 86,198 community members were screened for the ailments and referred for further screening and treatment in government approved health facilities.”
The 18th edition of LAPO community health outreach in Egor Primary School, according to the Executive Director, is aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable people, especially children within the communities as access to quality health services in maternal and child health is poor in rural communities with poorly equipped medical facilities, inadequate professional healthcare provider and inaccessibility to clean water, sanitation and power supply.
The 2023 edition of the LAPO community health outreach, the 18th in the series, provided school children from Egor community free health care services in eye care services, oral and dental health and skin care/personal hygiene provided by medical practitioners.
Also speaking at the event, Mrs Jennifer Oviawe, LAPO Regional Manager, disclosed that LAPO in partnership with SUBEB through its school based management committee in the community selected 350 school children but out of which195 of them received the screening after their parents gave consent to it.
On her part, the headmistress, Egor Primary School, Mrs Izekor Patience, who described the initiative as laudable, said it has brought qualitative health care services aimed at promoting and improving the wellness and health of the pupils at the grassroots.
Speaking on behalf of the parents, Mrs Edith Edomioyae expressed appreciation for the provision of the free health care services for the children in the community, saying it has helped in reducing the financial burden on the parts of indigent parents.
