By Olasunkanmi Akoni
At least 25, 000 people have benefited from the Eko free health screening in Lagos State for various health
services including free consultation and treatment for diverse ailments of dental, general and optical among
others even as the state government reiterated its commitment towards ensuring the accessibility of qualitative
health care to the people of the state.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who disclosed this over the weekend while reviewing the latest
of the Eko Free Health Mission held at Araromi Primary School in Ajeromi- Ifelodun Local Government Area, was
particularly impressed with the successes recorded at the mission which he noted has been enlarged to include
other services such as the School Health Programme; Safe Motherhood Programme; Dental Treatment Programme;
Hypertension and Diabetes Screening and Nutrition Programme among others.

Idris was also impressed with the large turn out of beneficiaries as well as the deployment of the recently
procured Field Mobile Hospital to further complement the objectives of the mission adding that the medical
expedition was put together to ameliorate the sufferings of the people at the grassroots as well as enlighten
them on good healthcare and prevention.

His words: “No fewer than 25, 000 people benefited from the free health screening for various health services
including free consultation and treatment for various ailments of dental, general and eye as well as the repair
of hernias, appendix, abnormal swellings, lumps, gynecological problems among others.”

Idris stressed that lessons have been learnt from the organization of the mission in a densely populated area
like Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local Government Area adding that such lessons have further reinvigorated the state
government’s commitment in meeting the health needs of the residents of the state especially the vulnerable and
the poor.

The commissioner also noted that preventive health has been on the fore front of the state government’s health
programmes hence the incorporation of  health education and enlightenment programmes into the last mission.

According to the commissioner, “Part of our strategies this time around is the education of the people on the
need to take their health seriously and on the need for them to immunize their children.”