From Joseph Amedu,  Lokoja

No fewer than 30 Cleft lip and Palate Patients in Kogi state have benefited from the ongoing free medical surgery carried out by Good Smile Africa Advocacy Initiative, a Non-governmental organisation.

The free medical care of the NGO , which is in partnership with the Kogi state government is currently ongoing at the Specialist Hospital, Obangede in the Central Senatorial District of Kogi state.

The Executive Director of the Organization, Dr.

Eromose told DAILY ASSET that the entire programme was aimed at putting smiles on the cleft lip and palate patients along with their parents as well as ensuring that the less privileged in the society have access to medical care.

He also said that the programme ws targeted at helping to minimise the sociocultural inequalities that people with cleft lip and palate diseases go through because of the misconception that their condition is of evil.

According to him, “Cleft lip and Palate patients are individuals born with one-facial deformities in the form of gap opening or shift between lip that could not extend to the roof of the mouth called Palate

“Its associated causes have been attributed to poor nutrition of mother including prenatal vitamins and folic acid deficiencies, hig in-take of alcohol and drugs during pregnancy”

The Executive Director expressed delight that surgical treatment of these patients have drastically improved their lives enabling them to eat, breath, speak and ultimately thrive.

He,  therefore, asked for partnership and collaboration with his organisation by well-meaning individuals, corporate organizations and government in the prevention, treatment and care of Cleft lip persons in order to bring smiles to them and their parents.

The Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, has said that no fewer than 110,000 military retirees have been enrolled into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Matawalle made the disclosure during an interactive session with military retirees groups on Thursday in Abuja.

Represented by Dr Olajide Johnson, the Director, Health Services, Matawalle restated the Federal Government’s committment towards providing adequate healthcare for both serving and retired military personnel.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the meeting is: ”Advancing the Health Care of Military Veterans”

The meeting was convened by the Defence Health Maintenance Ltd  (DHML), the Health Maintenance Organisation incharge of healthcare provision for military personnel under the NHIS.

The minister said that the Federal Government initially enrolled about 20,000 military retirees when the insurance scheme took off.

”Today, we have enrolled no fewer than 110,000 retirees, and the enrollment is still ongoing.

”The essence is to take care of the health needs of our military personnel after active service. I think that our veterans are lucky,” he said.

Matawale urged the beneficiaries to make adequate use of the scheme in the interest of their health.

”It is your right to be catered for at this period of your lives. At this stage what takes most of your money is your health.

”We are happy that the narrative has changed, the government now caters for you even after you have served the nation,” Matawalle said.

The minister commended DHML for giving priority to the healthcare needs of military retirees in its insurance package.

In his speech, the Managing Director of DHML, Rear Adm. Bayo Afolayan (Rtd), said that the essence of the meeting was to educate the military retirees on the benefits of the NHIS.

Olaniyan said that military retirees would access the health insurance package without deductions from their pensions

”We are here to enlighten you about the scheme. It is not true that your pension is being tempered with, nobody is touching any retiree’s money, it is free.

”The package is for you, your spouses and children, and you will enjoy it for life,” he said.

Also speaking, the Head, Administration, DHML, Cdr. Tunde Alabi (Rtd), noted that there was appreciable awareness about the scheme, and more retired military personnel had come out to enrol.

He said that DHML was committed to ensuring quality healthcare delivery for the military veterans, and urged them to take advantage of the scheme.

The Kwara Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Abosede Buraimoh, has commended some healthcare workers for prompt intervention on Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) victims in Ilorin.

Buraimoh made the commendation on Thursday during a familiarisation visit to some of the facilities where the health personnel work.

The hospitals are the Ajike Care Centre, General Hospital, Sexual Assault Evidence Centre and Sobi Specialist Hospital, Alagbado, Ilorin.

She also commended the hospital management for their prompt intervention to cases relating to SGBV and for having good maintenance culture at the centres.

According to her, the medical team did well in taking responsibility and being passionate about their jobs in spite various challenges.

The commissioner urged the team to keep up the good work while assuring the management of government’s resolve to address some of the challenges in due course.

Responding, Dr Suleiman Rotimi, the Chief Medical Director, Sobi Specialist Hospital, appreciated the commissioner’s team for the visit.

He however urged the government to intensify efforts at creating awareness and sensitisation to the public about the centre and the need to train more medical personnel.

Dr Obalowu Ismaila, the Deputy Director, Ajike Care Centre, also commended Dr Folake AndulRazaq, the Kwara First Lady, for being passionate about children, women and the girl child.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commissioner also visited Sexual Rehabilitation Home and Rehabilitation Home, Amayo, both in Ilorin, where she was briefed about some of the challenges facing the centres.