Unicef’s Revolutionary Healthcare Vision Lights Up Lagos for a Healthier Nigeria
By Blessing Enebeli
It was a bee hive of activities in the Lagos metropolis as delegates from UNICEF Nigeria, accompanied by the Associate Director of Health, Unicef New York, Luwei Pearson, with several brand ambassadors and social influencers, embarked on a field visit to some Primary Health Care facilities and community adolescent centers in Lagos state.
The visit was to ascertain what is being done at the primary health care level in Lagos state as well as strengthen the working relationship between UNICEF and the Nigerian health care workers. Addressing a team of journalists at the Iwaya Primary Health Care Centre located in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area, Luwei Pearson, Associate Director Health, UNICEF, reiterated UNICEF’s support in advocating for the protection of the rights of children globally by ensuring that their basic needs are met. One of such needs, she says, is the proper documentation of every child given birth to in Nigeria. She stated that the benefits of having a unique identification start with birth registration.
The team, joined by local healthcare workers, then embarked on a tour of the Primary Health Care facility in Iwaya connecting with residents and patients alike, underscoring the imperative of accessible, top-tier healthcare, for adolescents. The event wasn’t merely a spectacle; it was a clarion call for collective action.
Speaking about this, Victoria Isiramen, a Health Specialist with UNICEF Nigeria, emphasizes the need to pay greater attention when handling Child and adolescent health: “Adolescents are the vanguard of Nigeria’s future, and their health is non-negotiable”. “UNICEF is creating a blueprint for a healthier nation, one that places the well-being of our youth at the forefront.”
“This groundbreaking healthcare model sets its sights on confronting a multitude of pressing issues, from teenage pregnancies and mental health concerns to accessing comprehensive sexual reproductive health education for our adolescents,” she said.
The approach is all-encompassing, fusing medical services, psychological support, and tailored educational programs to cater to the unique needs of adolescents.
Dr.Ijeoma Agbo, Health Specialist UNICEF Nigeria, speaks on the critical need of strengthening family health care at the grass root with emphasis on routine immunization for children under the age of five. She called on the government, with the support of Unicef and development partners, to continue in their efforts at providing nutritional assessment services and antenatal care, all, geared towards making the life and health of every child easy.
Youth hold the future, and there should be a more proactive way for them to interact and make themselves relevant in the scheme of things, says Dr. Femi Adeyemi . They should be empowered to be able to do the right things and ask the right questions as far as adolescent health is concerned, especially when dealing with sensitive health issues like HIV and HPV.
He says that community participation is crucial to child and adolescents health and one of the reasons of UNICEF’s active involvement at the grass-roots level. The turnout and active participation of adolescents in the Yello Lagos Adolescent and Youth-Friendly Center, LASUTH Ikeja and the Yaahnaija community outreach centre, for HIV testing is a clear indication of the success of the programme.
Delegates of UNICEF Nigeria, accompanied by the Associate Director Health, Unicef New York, Luwei Pearson, with several brand ambassadors and social influencers visited these places in Lagos as a build-up to the adolescent conference.
The visit commenced with a visit to the Yello Lagos Adolescent and Youth-Friendly Center, LASUTH Ikeja. Then the delegation proceeded to the Iwaya Primary Health Centre, in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area. To cap it up, a visit was paid to the Yaahnaija community outreaches centre. As UNICEF boldly charts the course for the protection of child and adolescent rights in Nigeria, it behoves on all concerned to ensure they reach their full potential towards a healthier future for the Nigerian child.
A Nigerian trained investigative journalist, who cover various news beats in Nigeria.
