The Embassy of Japan has partnered with Street To School Initiative, a nongovernmental organization, to provide primary healthcare centre for residents of Surulere Community and Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area.
The health centre was inaugurated by the Charge d’Affaires at the embassy of Japan, Mr. Takayuki Shinozowa, who flew in from Honolulu; assisted by other embassy officials.
Also, in attendance was founder, Street To School Initiative, Mrs. Oluwatosin Olowoyeye-Taiwo, representative of chairman, Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Eniola Erinosho; Chairman of Agbado/Oke-Odo LCDA, Dr. Arogundade Augustine; Baale of Oke Abiye Community, Nojeem Ajolojuota, among others.
Speking at the event, Mrs. Olowoyeye-Taiwo said her NGO became interested in the rehabilitation of the health centres in the communities because they serve the catchment areas where her pupils and their parents live.
She said, “On 20, February 2018, a sponsored child, Mary, died because she could not access healthcare in good time.
“By the time she was rushed to the hospital, there was no bed space. She was forced to return home, where she died the next day,” Olowoyeye-Taiwo said.
She stressed the importance of accessible, quality healthcare in rural communities, noting that a sick child cannot concentrate in school. “No child should die because he or she cannot access healthcare,” she said.
She thanked the Embassy of Japan for their swift intervention, noting that it is a rare privilege which she and the community are not taking for granted.
In his speech, Charge d’Affaires at the embassy of Japan, Mr. Takayuki Shinozowa, expressed his gratitude to the people of Nigeria and the implementing partner, Street To School Initiative, for giving his country the opportunity to improve the healthcare system of Nigeria.
According to him, other projects also funded by the Japanese Government in Nigeria are: polio eradication project; non-project grant aid for provision of Japanese SME’s products in 2014; project for strengthening pro-poor community health services in Lagos State in 2016; delivery of 43 ambulances to the Federal Ministry of Health, among others.
“If all primary healthcare centres are effective and accessible, most problems that would lead one to secondary healthcare institutions would be non-existent,” he said.
“It is in recognition of this fact and considering the huge impact this project will have in this community and the neighbouring communities that my government decided to undertake it.
“This project is aimed at bringing inclusive basic healthcare to everyone in this community and neighbouring communities.
“By renovating this facility and providing a water purification system, solar power system, office furniture, hospital equipment and more, about 10,000 people from this community and the neighbouring communities are expected to benefit for this intervention project,” Shinozowa said.
Speaking on behalf of the Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Erinosho said the project was a valuable one that would assist the Lagos State Government in achieving the health components of SDGs.
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