The Ojodu Local Council Development Area in Lagos State has commenced a one-week free surgical programme for children aged 18 and below to reduce the financial burden of specialised medical treatment on their families.
The programme, launched on Tuesday at Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital, is being organised in partnership with the hospital, Life Care Development Foundation, City of God Cathedral, Christ Ambassadors Soul Winners, Soteria Hospital/Clam and Children Heritage Outreach, United Kingdom.
The conditions covered by the programme include breast lumps, epigastric hernia, umbilical hernia, inguinal hernia, undescended testicles and soft tissue pathologies.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the council chairman, David Odunmbaku, said the initiative was part of his administration’s HEYS Agenda, which prioritises health.
He said the programme, themed ‘Bringing Hope and Healing to our Children,’ was designed to improve access to specialised healthcare and ease the financial pressure on parents whose children require surgery.
“We recognise that a healthy population is essential to educational achievement, economic productivity, and sustainable community development.
“Today’s Paediatric Surgical Outreach is particularly significant because we understand the emotional and financial challenges families face when their children require specialised care.
“These interventions are designed to reduce barriers to healthcare and ensure that more residents can access the medical attention they need,” Odunmbaku said.
He added that every child deserved quality healthcare, irrespective of their family’s financial circumstances, describing the initiative as an investment in the future of the children and the community.
The chairman commended the management of Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital, the partner organisations and the surgeons for supporting the programme.
He also praised President Bola Tinubu for policies he said had enabled local governments to perform their responsibilities, as well as Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for providing modern facilities in general hospitals across the state.
Highlighting his administration’s healthcare interventions, Odunmbaku said 1,269 minor surgeries had been performed at rebuilt primary healthcare centres through the weekly See-A-Doctor programme.
He added that the council had increased its healthcare workforce to more than 175 personnel through additional recruitment and had organised free medical outreaches and provided health insurance for health workers.
The Chief Medical Director of Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital, Taiwo Oluyemi, commended Odunmbaku for supporting the initiative.
“Funding an initiative of this magnitude and bringing free, high-quality, specialised surgical services directly to a secondary healthcare facility is a testament to your commitment to health, dignity and human development,” she said.
Timothy Adejinka, who led the team of surgeons from the United Kingdom, thanked Odunmbaku and Life Care Development Foundation for organising the programme.
He described the initiative as a seed that would produce lasting benefits and expressed readiness to continue collaborating with the council.
“Posterity will talk about you because this is just the beginning. The government cannot do everything alone; that is why we come in. We are willing to continue collaborating with you. Prioritising the health of the people should be at the forefront of all governments,” Adejinka said.
Two beneficiaries, Raji Ibrahim from Ojodu LCDA and Motunrayo Muritala from Badagry, commended Odunmbaku for providing the surgeries free of charge, saying the intervention would relieve their parents of the financial burden of paying for the procedures.