There is no jewel in the world so valuable as a chaste and a virtuous woman – Miguel del Cervantes.
Above quote by Cervantes, widely regarded as the greatest Spanish writer and one of the world’s pre-eminent novelists, aptly defines the several social interventions of Lagos State First Lady, Dr (Mrs.) Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, in the last 12 months.
In her own modest ways, and rightly so, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu has been supporting the efforts of the State Government to engender the ‘Greater Lagos’ aspiration of the current administration. Her engagements, in this respect, cover health, women and girls’ rights protection, the environment and support for the needy.
The First Lady has brought her wealth of experience as a medical practitioner of over 25 years to bear on the State public health sector. She is unwavering in her craving and resolve towards achieving a healthier and stronger populace. She has been working relentlessly with key stakeholders in the health sector, both on the national and international scale.
She visited health care centers across the State to assess their status, donating medical kits and drugs, commissioning health care facilities, campaigning against drug addiction and suicide among the youth, encouraging Lagosians to pay particular attention to their health, while assuring them of the unwavering commitment of the Sanwo-Olu administration to investing massively in the provision of quality health care service.
She was also in the forefront of the “Healthy Bee Project”, which is a component of the present administration’s Six Pillars of Development to reposition healthcare and give the disadvantaged children access to quality medical care. The free medical mission was organized in collaboration with Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat (BOSKOH) and Healthcare Mission International, a non-Governmental Organization (NGO).
Dr. (Mrs.) Sanwo-Olu was at the centre of the four-week programme which commenced with a six-day screening in seven Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the State. The programme involved screening of children for visual and hearing impairments, and other ailments that can negatively impede their capacity to study. Succinctly put, the programme was purposely designed to keep children fit for their study and activities that would make them reach their potential, live good and fulfilling lives.
The healthcare programme which was carried out at Ajara PHC in Badagry, Akerele PHC in Surulere, Ikotun PHC in Alimosho, Iga Idungaran PHC on Lagos Island, Epe PHC in Epe, Onigbongbo PHC in Ikeja, and Ita-Elewa PHC in Ikorodu touched more than 250, 000 lives. Mostly children from impoverished backgrounds benefited from the free surgeries.
While working hard to ensure the success of the programme, the First Lady paid a visit to all the seven PHCs where various degrees of surgeries ranging from different levels of hernia to dental disorder, orthopaedic surgeries, eye surgery and ENT surgery (Ear, Nose and throat) were carried out on children and adults to assess the progress of the Healthy Bee project and interact with the children.
Perhaps, the icing on the cake, as far as Dr. Sanwo-Olu’s involvement in the public health sector is concerned, is the commissioning of the Eti-Osa Maternal Child Center (MCC).
In Lagos State, the new face of Campaign against Domestic Violence is the First Lady. The validity of her involvement as advocate against domestic violence is the high level of visibility in the media, seriousness and collaboration across spectrum of stakeholders it is attracting.
Recently, Dr. Sanwo-Olu called on Nigerian men to replicate the ongoing massive United States anti-racism protest in Nigeria to stop sexual, gender-based violence and send a strong message against rape and its perpetrators.
Speaking while receiving participants at a special All-Male awareness walk organised by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), in collaboration with Partnership For Justice and Mirabel Centre against rape in Alausa, the First Lady said sexual violence against women and girls must be accorded the same level of seriousness with which COVID-19 pandemic was addressed to demonstrate commitment to end the menace.
She commended men of good conscience who have decided to rise up to be counted for a good cause by participating in the awareness campaign aimed at highlighting the role of men in the fight against sexual and gender-based violence.
Many victims of domestic violence usually lack the courage to seek legal redress on the violations of their rights due to lack of positive response from the society. Domestic violence is so entrenched in our society that even the victims condone such violations of their rights as some perceive it as sign of love and the socio-religious belief that a broken marriage or relationship is a mark of failure in life.
The First Lady is also in the vanguard of environmental regeneration in the State by embracing the Blue Box initiative designed to engender clean, healthier, liveable and sustainable environment. She is also enthusiastically involved in the State’s tree planting project.
She has also taken the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials, COWLSO, to new heights, especially with the seamless and creative manner the 2019 COWLSO Conference was organized. The Conference, which had over 3,000 participants, equipped women with skills required to excel in the new world order.
As a follow-up to the Conference, a three-day retreat was also organised to equip COWLSO members with requisite skills in Protocol, Etiquette and Security.
Also, through her numerous cleanliness and healthy living campaigns to markets, Dr. Sanwo-Olu is in the forefront of efforts to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the State. She was also actively involved in the provision of palliatives for vulnerable members of the society during the lockdown period.
The First Lady and her team visited 27 State’s secondary health facilities and three custodial centres (Prisons) of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Kirikiri, Badagry and Ikoyi to assist with palliatives.
Orphanages, Special schools and homes for children and adults with special needs across the State were equally visited and assisted with essential items to lessen the difficulty experienced during the lockdown.
According to Ralph Waldo Emerson, “the purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate and to help put smile on the faces of others”. If viewed from this perspective, it could be rightly affirmed that Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, through her numerous life changing projects, is living a purposeful life and wholeheartedly committed to engendering the ‘Greater Lagos’ vision of the current Administration.
Nwonah is of the Public Affairs Unit, Office of the First Lady, Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.
