The Orile Agege General Hospital, Lagos, says it is committed to promoting the holistic wellbeing of children through its annual Back-to-School medical outreach programme.
The Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, Dr Temitope Bakare, stated this at the fifth edition of the week-long health intervention held at the hospital.
The programme, which began on Aug. 24, has the theme: “The Way Forward: Total Wellness”.
Bakare said the programme aims to provide comprehensive healthcare services to children at no cost.
She said the 2026 edition targets 3,000 children aged five to 15 years within and outside the hospital environment.
According to her, the programme, initiated in 2022, has evolved from a health screening initiative into a holistic child wellness programme.
She said it now addresses the physical, nutritional, developmental and social wellbeing of children.
“The theme represents a renewed commitment to moving beyond treating illnesses towards promoting lifelong health among children within the community.
“We believe that a healthy child is better equipped to learn, thrive, build confidence and contribute meaningfully to society.
“Our vision has always been simple yet profound: to ensure that every child returns to school healthy, confident, emotionally supported and ready to learn,” she said.
Bakare said the desire to give back to the community and provide life-changing healthcare services to beneficiaries remains the driving force behind the annual programme.
She said the programme initially provided services in paediatrics, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), eye care, dental care, medical social services, nutrition and dietetics, and pharmacy.
According to her, physiotherapy has now been introduced to expand the scope of the intervention.
“This expansion reflects our commitment to the principle of Total Wellness, addressing not only the immediate health needs of the child but also promoting physical, nutritional, developmental, social and overall wellbeing,” she said.
Bakare appreciated the sponsors and partners for their continued support, describing their contributions as crucial to improving the wellbeing of children.
She stressed the importance of prevention and early intervention in achieving better health outcomes and promoting children’s wellbeing.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Lagos State Health Service Commission, Dr Olukayode Oguntimehin, stressed the importance of children’s health in securing the future of the country.
Oguntimehin said investing in children’s health would contribute to improved life expectancy and national development.
He described the Back-to-School medical outreach as a laudable initiative, noting that some children face challenges in school because of undetected health conditions.
“Some children cannot see or hear properly because they have never been examined before, but through programmes like this, they can receive appropriate care and excel in school.
“Parents or teachers may easily assume that some children are dull, whereas the problem could be poor sight or an inability to hear their teachers properly,” he said.
The commission chairman commended the hospital management for sustaining the programme and its positive impact on children’s health.
He urged other general hospitals to replicate the initiative in their facilities.
Oguntimehin also urged parents to prioritise the health of their children.
He called on the hospital to consider making the programme a quarterly intervention to enable more children to benefit.
Some parents who spoke at the programme appreciated the hospital for supporting children in the community and beyond through the outreach.
