The Ojodu Local Council Development Area, Lagos State, has launched a free surgical programme for indigent children.
The initiative seeks to remove the cost barrier preventing vulnerable families from accessing specialised medical treatment.
The programme, organised in collaboration with the General Hospital, Ifako-Ijaiye, was launched on Tuesday.
It offers free medical screening, consultations and surgical procedures for children with various conditions.
The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Taiwo Oluyemi, commended the Ojodu LCDA Chairman, David Odunmbaku, for sponsoring the intervention, saying it would provide relief to families unable to afford the cost of their children’s treatment.
“Leadership is best demonstrated by how well we care for the most vulnerable members of our society. Today, you have once again proven that the well-being of our children is at the heart of your administration,” Oluyemi said.
She said the decision to fund specialised surgical services at a secondary healthcare facility demonstrated the council’s commitment to healthcare delivery and the welfare of vulnerable residents.
“Thank you, Mr Chairman, for translating your commitment into tangible support for families who otherwise could not afford these procedures,” she added.
Oluyemi urged parents and guardians in Ojodu, Ifako-Ijaiye and neighbouring communities to take advantage of the free services while the programme lasted.
The latest intervention builds on other healthcare programmes by the council. According to the statement, Ojodu LCDA has recorded 1,269 minor surgeries through its healthcare interventions, while its See a Doctor programme has facilitated another 145 surgeries.
It added that the council had also renovated or upgraded the Ojodu Primary Healthcare Centre, formerly known as Gbadamosi PHC, Akiode PHC and Poverline PHC, while expanding its healthcare workforce to more than 175 personnel.
Other interventions include free medical outreaches and support for health insurance registration, aimed at reducing the financial barriers to accessing essential healthcare.
The council said the paediatric surgical programme formed part of its broader efforts to improve access to treatment for disadvantaged residents.