Thousands of residents in Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos, benefitted from a health outreach organised by the NNPC and Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company (SNEPCo), which offered free medical services and education at strategic areas in the mega city. The Health-in-Motion programme took the team of doctors and nurses to Lagos Island East Local Government Area and the Ojota Motor Park, one of the largest in Lagos State, providing cardiovascular screening, screening for blood sugar and cholesterol, alcohol breath test for drivers, HIV counselling and testing, malaria testing, screening for breast, cervical and prostate cancer, dental care/minor surgery, optometry/distribution of eye glasses and treatment of minor ailments.

“We are pleased to reach our extended families with this first major health initiative,” said SNEPCo Managing Director, Bayo Ojulari, as he reflected on the outcome of the exercise.

The three-day outreach at Lagos Island Local Government Area held at the Campos Mini Stadium with a representative of the wife of the Lagos State Governors, Mrs. Titi Ayinla, flagging it off. Describing health “as an individual’s most important asset,” she said that SNEPCo displayed responsible corporate citizenship by subscribing to the health and well-being of Lagosians, especially the people of Isale Eko.

Mrs. Ayinla later presented five schools with a first aid box each, dewormed school children, and distributed long lasting insecticide treated nets to pregnant women. The Sole administrator of the Local Government, Mr A.B Are, highlighted his joy regarding the “fruitful collaboration” between the council and SNEPCo.

In addition to the screening tests and treatment, the health team visited five primary schools and trained a total of 2470 children on hand washing. In all, nearly 5000 men, women and youths benefitted from the outreach at Isale Eko, many of whom received spectacles and drugs for blood pressure management and also underwent dental surgery among other medical procedures.

The outreach at Ojota Motor Park saw SNEPCo collaborate with the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to flag off FRSC’s 2016 Ember Month campaign with the theme: “Crash the crash: speed kills.” The focus was on the driver’s health and safety to prevent road traffic crashes and influence policy.

The flag off ceremony was attended by high ranking officials of the FRSC, SNEPCo, SPDC, NURTW, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), members of the uniformed forces and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG) who delivered goodwill messages. The Corp Marshall who was represented by Assistant Corps Marshall Austin Aipoh acknowledged the contributions of SNEPCo for sponsoring the Health-in-Motion for drivers. The Lagos State Commissioner of Transportation, Mr. Adebowale Akinsanya, who represented Governor of the State and called on drivers and road users to discard “rhetoric’s” and “myths” and take “strong actions and commitment” in reducing road crashes.

A total of 398 drivers and transporters benefited from the programme, with 60 people trained in First Aid skills. SNEPCo also presented five alcohol breath analysers to the FRSC.

•Photo shows SNEPCo MD Bayo Ojulari.

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