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Tag: Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials

  • COWLSO donates suites, neo-natal incubators to hospitals

    The Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) yesterday donated 32 neo-natal incubators to 13 government hospitals.

    It also donated six birthing suites to Lagos Island Maternity, Amuwo Maternal and Child Centre and Epe General Hospital.

    COWLSO Chairman and wife of Lagos State governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, accompanied by wife of the Governor-elect, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu,  spoke of the group ’s vision for expectant mothers to have access to world-class delivery facilities in public hospitals.

    According to her, an ideal childbirth will ensure the best outcome for mother and baby, in a safe environment that guaranteed quick recovery from the process, and allowed early and optimum bonding of mother and child.

    “My vision and that of COWLSO, is that in Lagos State, any expectant woman, regardless of origin, economic status and location, will have access to quality and safe child delivery experience that is in line with international best practice, in any of our public hospitals, at a minimal cost.

    “Child birth has always been one of the life-changing experiences that women go through. Different women go into labour having different emotions and expectations about the process and outcome. There is hardly a woman who had been in labour that would not remember that experience, many years after,” Mrs Ambode said.

    Birthing suites are stand-alone delivery units, where all three stages of a woman’s labour and delivery take place. They have private conveniences for patients and are fitted with automated birthing beds, ultra-modern vital sign monitors for mother and baby; specialised machines for monitoring the heartbeat of mother and baby and post- delivery care.

    The incubators will regulate the body temperature of pre-term babies and avail them the right environment to be nurtured, till they are fit to go home.

    The Medical Director of Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Dr. Ademuyiwa Eniayewun, said  the committee’s gesture would help reduce infant and child mortality.

     

  • Combating teenage pregnancy

    The need to put structures in place to combat teenage pregnancy was the main point of discourse at a recent three-day conference organised by Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) anchored by the wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode. Omolara Akintoye writes.

    In Nigeria, an estimated 23% of women aged 15-19 years delve into childbearing, of which teenagers in rural areas are three times more likely to get pregnant than their counterparts in urban areas.

    In a topic titled: ‘Children having Children: The Hazards of Teenage Pregnancy, the Child Protection, Sexual and Reproductive Health,’ Programme Officer, Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Veronica Ayo-Vaughan Iwayemi, pointed out that for the many unplanned and unwanted pregnancy, there is an unmet need for modern contraception, as one and a half of pregnancies are unintended.

    She also said, “Ignorance on the part of the parents/caregiver and the child constitutes a major factor.”

    She added that the implication of teenage pregnancy is grave, ranging from complications and labour, anaemia, unsafe abortions, cycle of poverty, lower educational attainment, among others.

    To address these challenges, state government, policy makers, Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), civil societies and relevant stakeholders need to engage in advocacy meetings on the need for policy changes and increased funding to support state-wide service upgrade, among others.

    In addressing the issue of children pregnancy, the state government, according to Iwayemi,  started a pilot project two years ago of a Young Moms Clinic in Oko-Awo  Youth Friendly Centre, Lagos Island.

    The objectives of the Teen Mom’s Clinic, she said, is to identify teenage mothers and provide them with health care services, as well as link them to social support services and avenues through which  they can be empowered  in terms of continuing their education or learning a vocational skill.

    Speaking on the topic “Vulnerable but not defenceless”, the Director, Citizens Mediation Center, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Omotola Rotimi, while lamenting that the number of women and children experiencing abuse, domestic violence, exploitation and neglect is on the rise, charged all in attendance to address such behaviour as soon as they sense it.

    “If you are being violated, don’t keep quiet, speak out and seek help, it might be your only chance to save your life or that of your children, make that decision now.”

    Rotimi revealed that Lagos State has over 11 Family Support Unit (FSU) across various police stations, with trained police officers who treat cases with utmost confidentiality and professionalism.

    Speaking on the topic, ‘Successful Marriages Need Passion and Perseverance’ founder and chairperson, Relate Africa Organisation for Marriage and Family, Mrs. Bridget Itsueli, lamented that over 30% of women suffer depression in their marriages. She was also quick to add that sex, which is one of the reasons marriage was instituted, is dead in so many marriages.

    For a successful marriage, Itsueli called for interaction, perseverance, and communication between couples.

    In the segment on “Digital Family Connections-Parenting Digital Kids,” founder RAVE Et Al and pioneer DQ Ambassador in Africa, Mrs. Christy Babatunde, addressed the issue of protecting children from the harmful effects of technology and how they can be insulated from digital explosion, so they can make responsible choices in life.

    According to Babatunde, while the goals of parenting remains the same, methods and approaches of training children must change. “Thus entirely disconnecting children from the digital world may be counter-productive, and giving them unfettered access to every digital content might also be counter-productive. There is therefore need to ensure that our children acquire relevant skills, so as to make balanced adjustment,” she said.

    Babatunde also enjoined participants to stick to enduring values and identity.

    The theme of this year’s conference tagged ‘Strengthening our Collective Impact,’ according to Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, focuses on the ‘advantages derivable from our collective impact, compared to when we act alone.

    “If you take a closer look at our society, women are strong-willed. It is very obvious that God created and endowed us with skills, innate abilities and a hidden strength that no one can explain,’ she said.

    The yearly conference, according her, is an avenue to examine issues that pertains to women and the society at large. “It is also aimed at empowering women to  be architects  of change, strengthening the links between women groups across the country, canvassing for resources to empower women raising of funds for execution of COWLSO projects and offering opportunities for professional and personal growth and promotion of policy debates.

    Highlighting the projects executed in the last three years, Mrs. Ambode said, COWLSO has executed health-related projects, which have recorded impressive impacts on the health of babies, children, youths, women and the aged ones. Such projects include: Upgrading of Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Department of the Lagos Island General Hospital in Odan while sponsoring goitre operation for many women; donation of portable Otoread OAEs equipment to four General Hospitals, namely: Badagry, Ifako-Ijaye, Ikorodu and Gbagada General Hospitals; donation of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to the Lagos Island Maternity; donation of two transport incubator ambulances to Gbagada General hospital and Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, which is fully equipped with life support gadgets and other conveniences.

    Ambode said, “The women are happy to contribute this way to the progress of our state and the overall happiness of the citizenry” said Bolanle Ambode.

    At the end of the three-day conference, the women resolved to: Get advice from professionals on financial matters; Never spend all their income; Invest at least 10% of it; Know their rights under the law; Caregivers must listen and pay attention to their wards; while cases must be put in place to address cases of children having children.

    Women were also enjoined to take their health seriously, especially from age 40, by ensuring reduction in dietary salt and increasing fruits intake, while maintaining an ideal body weight and engaging in regular exercise.

    Other side attraction of the Conference was the 2018 Inspirational Woman of the Year Award and the Friends of COWLSO Award. The Inspirational Woman of the Year was given to singer, photographer, songwriter and a philanthropist, Toyin Sokefun Bello, aka T Y Bello.

    The Friends of COWLSO award was given to the founder and Group Managing Director of Emzor Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Stella Okoli for her commitment to the promotion of quality health care and poverty alleviation.

    The conference was capped with a gala night of fun and entertainment. Seven participants won Hyundai Accent Executive cars, while some won a trip to London, others also won Consolation prizes.

  • Reducing maternal mortality: The COWLSO example

    Reducing maternal mortality: The COWLSO example

    Dressed in White T-shirts with COWLSO emblazoned on them and fez-caps to match, the women numbering over 100 grinned unceasingly. It was obvious they were not there to be delivered of their babies. They are mothers who know the pangs of labour.

    They are members of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO). Their mission at the Lagos Island Maternity Hospital was to donate an ultra-modern Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to the Lagos Island Maternity, a move that was aimed at reducing the rate of maternal mortality in Lagos State and its environs.

    Led by wife of Lagos State Governor and Chairman of the committee, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, the women promised that they would continue to partner with the government in its efforts to end mother and child mortality.

    The ICU is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities such as humidifier, multi-parameter monitors, portable multi-parameter monitor and volumetric infusion pump.

    Others are portable suction unit, blood fluid/warmer; automatic external defibrillator, Marquet servo air intensive care ventilators, ICU beds, pressure relief mattresses and pump, among others.

    The project was the focus of COWLSO’s health intervention for this year, along with neonatal hearing screening equipment donated to Gbagada General Hospital, Ikorodu General Hospital, Badagry General Hospital and Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital, all in Lagos State.

    Mrs. Ambode said late referral of emergency baby delivery cases from traditional birth attendants and faith-based homes to government’s health facilities had become a major challenge, requiring the services of an ICU to save endangered mothers and their babies.

    “Now and then, we hear of many expectant mothers and their babies dying of conditions such as pregnancy-induced hypertension, convulsion or shock arising from post-delivery bleeding. A good number of such cases come in extreme conditions, of which non-availability of a well-equipped intensive care unit, death seems inevitable for the mother, baby or both,” Mrs Ambode said.

    She said that informed COWLSO’s intervention in upgrading and strengthening the existing High Dependency Unit, to an ultra-modern Intensive Care Unit, to cope with increased number and complexity of emergency cases.

    She said: “This gesture by the committee had the potential to save mothers and babies, as well as ease financial pressure on families.”

    Mrs Ambode said the committee also decided to consolidate on last year’s Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) intervention, by targeting the preventive aspect of hearing impairment. She revealed that neonatal hearing screening equipment was procured for those general hospitals, to enable early screening of new-borns for possible hearing defects.

    She said: “According to the World Health Organisation, 60 per cent of childhood hearing loss is preventable, hence our continuous intervention. The consequences of not addressing hearing loss in children include difficulty in speech acquisition, delayed language development, academic under-achievement, social isolation, higher risk injuries and increased poverty.

    “According to audiologists, the most important way to address this disability is early examination of new-borns. This is done by a test called ‘neo-natal hearing screening.”

    Four OTOREAD OAE audio-logical instruments, capable of detecting hearing loss in children have been installed and 12 personnel trained to handle the equipment. They can be accessed at Gbagada, Ikorodu, Badagry, and Ifako-Ijaiye general hospitals.

    Also, some equipment have been installed at ENT Unit of General Hospital Lagos to serve the needs of Lagos Island Maternity and Massey Street Children’s hospitals, both of which have a high population of new deliveries and very young children.

    The COWLSO chairman commended her members, the health institutions and equipment suppliers for their co-operation and support.

    Chairman, Committee on Health Services, Lagos State House of Assembly Hon. Olusegun Olulade implored Lagosians to take advantage of the equipment. He also appealed to health workers who will operate the equipment to handle them with utmost care. He promised to assist COWLSO in the area of health-related legislation.

    Commissioner of Health, Dr. Jide Idris said Island Maternity records about 400 deliveries monthly and promised that professional update courses would be provided to run the unit, adding that the state’s Strategic Health Development Plan envisioned the phased creation of zonal High Dependency Units to serve emergency obstetric cases.

    “The revamping of the audiology unit of the ENT clinic at the General Hospital Lagos last year by COWLSO has had positive impact on residents with hearing impairment. I commend the Committee for the noble gesture, and I am calling on well-meaning individuals and groups, to emulate them by partnering the government in the mission to provide quality health care services to the citizens,” Dr Idris said.

    Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Health Hon. Segun Olulade, praised members of COWLSO for complementing efforts of government to achieve new levels of health care delivery for Lagosians.

    He said: “COWLSO has introduced a new dimension to humanitarian service. I can still remember when the committee donated the first state-of-the-art Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) equipment to the General Hospital Odan and conducted major goitre surgery for over 30 adults. I implore expectant mothers to take advantage of the facilities. I also urge health workers to handle them with care.”

    Responding on behalf of the general hospitals that received the hearing screening equipment, the Medical Director of Ikorodu General Hospital, Dr. Olufunmilayo Bankole profusely praised COWLSO and the governor’s wife for the intervention, stressing that the instruments would enable the benefitting hospitals to screen the new-borns for possible hearing defects.

     

     

     

  • Photos: COWLSO presents car to winner of 2016 NWC raffle draw

    Photos: COWLSO presents car to winner of 2016 NWC raffle draw

    Wife of Lagos State Governor and Chairman, Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (2nd left), with winners of the COWLSO National Women Conference 2016 Raffle Draw - 1st position, Mrs. Risikat Adekunle (right); 2nd position, Alhaja Mopelola Ologolo (2nd right) and 3rd position, Mrs. Folake Fakolujo (left)
    Wife of Lagos State Governor and Chairman, Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (2nd left), with winners of the COWLSO National Women Conference 2016 Raffle Draw – 1st position, Mrs. Risikat Adekunle (right); 2nd position, Alhaja Mopelola Ologolo (2nd right) and 3rd position, Mrs. Folake Fakolujo (left)

     

    Wife of Lagos State Governor and Chairman, Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (2nd right), presenting a brand new saloon car to the 3rd runner-up of the 2016 NWC Raffle Draw, Mrs. Folake Fakolujo (right), at the weekend. With them are the 2016 COWLSO National Women Conference Planning Committee members
    Wife of Lagos State Governor and Chairman, Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (2nd right), presenting a brand new saloon car to the 3rd runner-up of the 2016 NWC Raffle Draw, Mrs. Folake Fakolujo (right), at the weekend. With them are the 2016 COWLSO National Women Conference Planning Committee members.

     

    Wife of Lagos State Governor and Chairman, Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (3rd left), supported by the 2016 COWLSO National Women’s Conference Planning Committee, presenting a brand new saloon car to the 2nd runner-up of the 2016 NWC Raffle Draw, Alhaja Mopelola Ologolo (middle).
    Wife of Lagos State Governor and Chairman, Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (3rd left), supported by the 2016 COWLSO National Women’s Conference Planning Committee, presenting a brand new saloon car to the 2nd runner-up of the 2016 NWC Raffle Draw, Alhaja Mopelola Ologolo (middle).

     

    Wife of Lagos State Governor and Chairman, Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (2nd left), presenting the star prize, a brand new saloon car to the winner of the 2016 NWC Raffle Draw, Mrs. Risikat Adekunle (middle)
    Wife of Lagos State Governor and Chairman, Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (2nd left), presenting the star prize, a brand new saloon car to the winner of the 2016 NWC Raffle Draw, Mrs. Risikat Adekunle (middle)