Inclusive Healthcare Remains Central to Edo SHINE Agenda — Edo First Lady Anani
The Coordinator, Office of the Edo State First Lady, Her Excellency Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, has reaffirmed that inclusive healthcare remains a central pillar of Governor Monday Okpebholo's SHINE Agenda, emphasizing that the well-being of women, children, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups is fundamental to building a healthy, productive, and prosperous Edo State.
Mrs. Anani made the assertion while receiving delegates of the National Health Fellows (NHF), Cohort 2, at her office. She reiterated the State Government's commitment to strengthening primary healthcare, expanding public health awareness campaigns, and fostering strategic partnerships to improve health outcomes across the state.
Describing health as the foundation of sustainable development, she stressed that a healthy population is indispensable to economic growth and national progress.
"Health is wealth. Health is very important. I have always said that for a productive nation or state, the people must be healthy because with a sick population, you actually have nothing to produce. It affects the economy. It affects everything. In His Excellency's SHINE Agenda, the 'H' stands for Health, which is very important," she said.
Mrs. Anani expressed concern over the growing number of documented Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) cases and the persistent burden of malaria-related deaths. She pledged her office's support for intensified public enlightenment campaigns and called for sustained grassroots sensitization on HIV prevention, family planning, hypertension, cancer, substance abuse, menstrual hygiene, and malaria prevention.
She disclosed that the Edo State Government has, for over a year, provided free malaria medications to residents and is advancing plans to distribute insecticide-treated mosquito nets to rural communities as part of efforts to curb malaria prevalence.
As part of her commitment to promoting inclusive healthcare, Mrs. Anani announced two forthcoming initiatives by the Office of the First Lady: the distribution of free menstrual hygiene packs to schoolgirls and the deployment of sign language interpreters in hospitals to improve access to healthcare services for persons with disabilities and survivors of gender-based violence.
She thanked the National Health Fellows delegation for its commitment to improving healthcare delivery and assured them that her office remains open to collaborations that will enhance the health and well-being of Edo residents.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, the Team Lead of the National Health Fellows, Cohort 2, Mr. Airen-Ogieva Efosa, explained that the National Health Fellows Programme was inaugurated by the Federal Ministry of Health to strengthen healthcare interventions at the grassroots level.
He identified key areas proposed for collaboration with the Office of the First Lady, including HIV/AIDS awareness with emphasis on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, family planning and reproductive health education, hypertension and diabetes awareness, cervical and breast cancer screening, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing, substance abuse prevention among youths, menstrual hygiene education for adolescent girls, and malaria control initiatives.
Mr. Efosa expressed confidence that the Office of the First Lady would consider the proposals and identify priority areas for joint implementation. He also reaffirmed the team's commitment to partnering with the office to deliver impactful, community-based health interventions in support of the SHINE Agenda.
Photo Caption
A group photograph of the Coordinator, Office of Edo First Lady, Mrs Edesili Okpebholo Anani and members of the National Health Fellows (NHF), Cohort 2 during a meeting at the Government House in Benin City.
Gloria Osemudiamhen
Public Relations Officer
Office of the First Lady, Edo State
Mrs. Anani made the assertion while receiving delegates of the National Health Fellows (NHF), Cohort 2, at her office. She reiterated the State Government's commitment to strengthening primary healthcare, expanding public health awareness campaigns, and fostering strategic partnerships to improve health outcomes across the state.
Describing health as the foundation of sustainable development, she stressed that a healthy population is indispensable to economic growth and national progress.
"Health is wealth. Health is very important. I have always said that for a productive nation or state, the people must be healthy because with a sick population, you actually have nothing to produce. It affects the economy. It affects everything. In His Excellency's SHINE Agenda, the 'H' stands for Health, which is very important," she said.
Mrs. Anani expressed concern over the growing number of documented Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) cases and the persistent burden of malaria-related deaths. She pledged her office's support for intensified public enlightenment campaigns and called for sustained grassroots sensitization on HIV prevention, family planning, hypertension, cancer, substance abuse, menstrual hygiene, and malaria prevention.
She disclosed that the Edo State Government has, for over a year, provided free malaria medications to residents and is advancing plans to distribute insecticide-treated mosquito nets to rural communities as part of efforts to curb malaria prevalence.
As part of her commitment to promoting inclusive healthcare, Mrs. Anani announced two forthcoming initiatives by the Office of the First Lady: the distribution of free menstrual hygiene packs to schoolgirls and the deployment of sign language interpreters in hospitals to improve access to healthcare services for persons with disabilities and survivors of gender-based violence.
She thanked the National Health Fellows delegation for its commitment to improving healthcare delivery and assured them that her office remains open to collaborations that will enhance the health and well-being of Edo residents.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, the Team Lead of the National Health Fellows, Cohort 2, Mr. Airen-Ogieva Efosa, explained that the National Health Fellows Programme was inaugurated by the Federal Ministry of Health to strengthen healthcare interventions at the grassroots level.
He identified key areas proposed for collaboration with the Office of the First Lady, including HIV/AIDS awareness with emphasis on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, family planning and reproductive health education, hypertension and diabetes awareness, cervical and breast cancer screening, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing, substance abuse prevention among youths, menstrual hygiene education for adolescent girls, and malaria control initiatives.
Mr. Efosa expressed confidence that the Office of the First Lady would consider the proposals and identify priority areas for joint implementation. He also reaffirmed the team's commitment to partnering with the office to deliver impactful, community-based health interventions in support of the SHINE Agenda.
Photo Caption
A group photograph of the Coordinator, Office of Edo First Lady, Mrs Edesili Okpebholo Anani and members of the National Health Fellows (NHF), Cohort 2 during a meeting at the Government House in Benin City.
Gloria Osemudiamhen
Public Relations Officer
Office of the First Lady, Edo State
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