LAGOS MEDICAL GUILD, ELIZABETHAN H&H FOUNDATIONSEEK STRATEGIC COLLABORATION WITH MINISTRY OF INFORMATION

Key stakeholders in the social welfare and health sectors have harped on the need to collaborate with strategic Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Lagos State Government to achieve set objectives. 

This was echoed when delegations from the Elizabethan H&H Foundation and the Medical Guild (Association of Lagos State Government Employed Medical and Dental Practitioners) paid courtesy visits to the Ministry of Information and Strategy on Tuesday.

In her remark, the Founder of Elizabethan H&H, Mrs. Oyinade Samuel-Eluwole noted that the Foundation is a non-profit, non-governmental/philanthropic organisation dedicated to empowering and uplifting the lives of the male gender, adding that its primary focus is to rescue and rejuvenate vulnerable males and shield them from the adverse effects of psychological, emotional and physical challenges.

 Samuel-Eluwole further explained that the organisation commissioned the “Rescue The Boys” platform, an intervention focused on addressing the psychological frustrations of the boy-child.

She said, “Through our dedicated team, we are determined to bring about remarkable, long-term, positive change and empower the male gender to reach their full potential. Most of our men bottle up a lot of things, while society often mistakes physical strength for emotional strength”.

As part of efforts to change the narrative, she said the organisation would be launching the “Zero Male Suicide” initiative between 24th – 29th February 2024, and this will focus on addressing the emotional frustrations of the boy-child as they intend to reach out to different households, families and communities.

“Therefore, we want to partner with the Ministry to safeguard their wellbeing. Our aim as an organisation is to focus and rejuvenate vulnerable males and shield them from the adverse effects of the psychological, emotional and physical challenges unique to the male gender”.

Also speaking, a member Governing Council of the Foundation, Mr. Bamijoko Okupe emphasised the need for urgent intervention for the male gender as the world needs to know they need attention too. He further stated that he aligned himself with the vision and mission of the organisation to achieve these goals.
 
 Another member of the Governing Council and former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Adamawa State, Mallam Ahmad Sanu noted that there’s a huge nexus between the male gender on the streets and those affected by drugs, adding that a great percentage of out-of-school children contribute to insecurity and the Lagos State Government has what it takes to help champion their cause as it has always been a pacesetter for other states to follow. 

While presenting the newly-elected executives of the Medical Guild to the management team of the Ministry, the Chairman of the Foundation, Dr. Moruf Abdulsalam expressed dissatisfaction with the several assaults on Doctors by families of patients, noting that other issues including poor remuneration, insecurity, poor work environment and infrastructural challenges have caused the reduction of health workers in the country.

“There are many cases of Doctors being attacked and we hope to stem the tide as most doctors are faced with stress and overstretched daily”, he explained. 

Responding to the visiting teams, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr. Olumide Sogunle commended the management of the Elizabethan H&H Foundation and the Medical Guild for noticing the Ministry as a key enforcer in championing their causes, stating that both visits and requests are coming at the right time.

He said, “Firstly, we cannot ignore the fact that many fathers have failed to pay attention to the boy-child because they are not even present in their lives and family as we know is the first human foundation in any society”. 

Sogunle also stated that to resolve some emotional outbursts of patients in hospitals, there should be proper public enlightenment and the Lagos State Government has not relented in providing good health care services to its citizens.         
  
He, therefore, expressed the Ministry’s readiness to work with both organisations, saying when proper channels are used for advocacies, a lot would be achieved for the #Greater Lagos vision.

Also present during the courtesy visit were management staff of the Ministry including the Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Adesegun Ogundeji; the Director, Strategy Centre, Mr. Kayode Oyekanmi; the Director, Social Media, Dr. Jide Atasuyi; the Director, Features/Editor Alausa Alert, Mr. Tayo Ogunbiyi and Director Public Enlightenment and Community Relations, Mr. Goke Folayan, among others.