Twenty years after take-off of the popular “Jigi-Bola” programme, the Lagos State Government today relaunched and expanded the Blindness Prevention Programme to include Ear Impairment Prevention. The effort is also targeted at reaching 250,000 Lagosians across the State.
Speaking today through the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat at the re-launched of the programme, the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu stated that his administration is relaunching the Jigi-Bola initiative in celebration of one of the many legacy grassroot outreach programmes of the administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and to restate its commitment to improving the wellbeing and welfare of Lagosians.
He said, “The aim of this relaunch is to improve the capacity for efficient eye and ear care delivery and to ensure that Lagosians do not lose their vision and hearing when it could have been prevented.”
Speaking further the governor disclosed that his administration has taken a step further with the Jigi-Bola Initiative by broadening its scope to include hearing aid programme, which will cater for the needs of Lagosians with hearing difficulty through the provision of hearing aids and other medical support.
“We understand that vision and hearing impairment can make life difficult but could be prevented with early care and intervention. That is why we are re-launching the Jigi-Bola Initiative as a Free Sight and Hearing Aid Programme”, he said.
The Governor added that the initiative is open to all Lagosians including those in the grassroot across the 20 Local Government Areas. The services to be offered include early detection of eye conditions that may lead to blindness, eye and ear health education, free eye surgery and treatment, and also the distribution of hearing aids and eye glasses.
He stated that his administration is committed to making life much easier and better for Lagosians irrespective of status, age, religion, tribe or other human differences, adding that the primary goal of his administration is to improve the comfort and wellbeing of the citizens of the State and will stop at nothing to achieve this.
The Governor said, “I once again use this opportunity to assure Lagosians that we remain ever-committed to making life easier and better for them regardless of status, age, religion, tribe and other human differences. Our primary goal as a government is to improve the comfort and well being of our people and we will stop at nothing to achieve that”
Earlier in her welcome address, the Wife of the State Governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu stated that the re-launch of this important programme marks a significant landmark in the annals of Lagos State and a clear testament of the determination of the administration of Mr Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu to prioritize all aspects of healthcare delivery.
She added that the major reason the state government is including the distribution of hearing aids in the programme is to improve both hearing and speech comprehension; thereby bringing relief to those battling with hearing loss, but could not afford a hearing aid.
She therefore urged Lagosians, especially those suffering from visual and hearing impairments to take advantage of the Jigi-Bola Initiative to improve their health, stressing that a large number of causes with visual impairment and hearing loss are preventable and many can be treated effectively, if detected early.
In his address, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi commended the initiative describing it as important one that brings relieve and functionality to the people.
He noted that it is the responsibility of his ministry to ensure that all Lagosians enjoy good health and one of the most important aspect of good health is the wellness of the sense organs.
TUNDE ALAO
SSA, MEDIA
Public Affairs Unit
Office of the Lagos State Deputy Governor
