A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adebisi Yusuff has donated 1, 200 bottles of Albendazole containing 1, 200, 000 doses of de-worming drugs to the Lagos State government. He said the gesture was a way of enhancing the the health of children and to guard against infant mortality.
The lawmaker, who is representing Alimosho Constituency I, gave out the drugs (Abbendazole 400mg) penultimate week through Prince Hope Turns to Reality Foundation, an organisation he set up to take care of health matters.
The donation, made in conjunction with Vitamin Angels Incorporation (USA) was the third edition and it took place at the lawmaker’s constituency office in Ipaja.
Over 600,000 children will benefit from the drugs across the 57 council areas in the state.
While speaking to reporters shortly after the handing over of the drugs, Yusuff, who is Acting Chairman, Committee on Public Accounts (Local), noted that his mother thaught him how to take care of people’s health..
“I am passionate about the well-being of humanity, especially healthwise and that is why I have been carrying out health outreaches as well as donating drugs for the good health of adults, children and pregnant women to the state Ministry of Health, this being the third edition,” he said.
He said health of the citizens is the responsibility of everybody and should not be left in the hands of the government alone.
“Whatever little roles or contributions we can make to ensure that people are healthy we should do it. We should inculcate hygienic way of life to everybody,” he said.
He further said he has interest in the good health of the citizens, which was what prompted him to engage in the gesture, even as he said it was not politically motivated.
He also promised to expand the scope of the programme by also making available drugs for pregnant women in the state in subsequent edition.
In her comments, the representative of Lagos State Government from the Ministry of Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Folashade Oludara, commended Yusuff for the initiative, saying he had shown great commitment to the care of the vulnerable.
“On behalf of the Ministry of Health, I thank you very much Hon. Bisi Yusuff. This is not the first time he will be donating de-worming materials. He has taken a lead in taking care of the vulnerable. He has deemed it fit to assist us through the Vitamin Angels.
“Before the donation, the percentage we have been having on de-worming was 40 per cent. Since Hon. Bisi Yusuff came on board, we have always been getting 100 per cent coverage. God will assist him further,” Oludara said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Alimosho Local Government Area, Mr Jeleel Sulaiman said the gesture of the lawmaker was quie commendable.
“I thank our leader, our mentor and mirror, Hon Yusuff for orgainising the programme. It is not just for Alimosho alone but for the people of Lagos State.
“He has done well by donating drugs that will benefir 600,000 children. He deserves being emulated and also desserved to be returned to the House,” Sulaiman said.