NAN-H-37
Services
By Vezi Isike
Lagos, Jan. 5, 2017 (NAN) No fewer than 50 senior citizens in Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State will henceforth enjoy free medical services sponsored personally by the Sole Administrator, Mr Abdul Adewale.
Adewale told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the beneficiaries had been issued registration cards to enable them to access the free treatment from government hospitals.
He said that the initiative was meant to appreciate the role of senior citizens in the LCDA and improve their health.
“Governance is bigger than sitting in an office and giving directives without going around to find out the challenges of the people.
“I have decided to carry out laudable initiatives that will affect the lives of everyone in the local government area, even if I have to spend all of my personal funds.
“Senior citizens’ healthcare is a priority, and we will do more than necessary to sustain their lives,” the council chief said.
Chief Ayo Ore, Deputy President, Senior Citizens’ Association of Nigeria, Ikosi Chapter, lauded the initiative, and called for its sustenance.
“Taking care of older people should be a norm by the three tiers of government, but this has not been so for a long time.
“There is no time that it will be convenient to have all the resources needed by government.
“Policies in this regard will assure us that the elderly are cared for by the government,” Ore said.
Mr Olatunji Jejelola, Chairman, Ikosi-Isheri Community Development Committee (CDC) said that challenges facing the current administration were enormous.
He advised local councils to implement policies that would drive grassroots development.
“If we wait for the Federal Government to tackle all the challenges we have, we won’t get it right in the near future,” he said.
Jejelola called on other government officials to emulate the good deeds of the sole administrator to improve the lives of the citizens. (NAN)
VOI/FLP/IGO
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(Edited by Folorunso Poroye/Ijeoma Popoola)