OpeOluwani Akintayo
Lagos — Residents of Kirikiri community in Oriade Local Community Development Area, LCDA Lagos, has commended Total for bringing its cardiovascular health initiative to their community.
As part of the Group’s Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) initiative, Total in Nigeria on Wednesday, November 13, 2019, implemented a one-day medical outreach in the community which involved screening exercise of blood pressure, blood sugar and Body Mass Index (BMI) checks.
The initiative which was in partnership with Axa-Mansard, also witnessed the distribution of multilingual information, educational and communication materials to help pass the message more effectively to members of the public.
Speaking on behalf of the community, the supervisory counselor for health in the LCDA Ajayi Bashiru lauded the management of Total for its commitment towards the health and well-being of residents and business owners in the community. He said the intervention would help check and prevent untimely cardiovascular-related deaths within the locality and tasked other corporate organisations to follow Total’s example.
The Managing Director, Total Nigeria Plc Imrane Barry, represented by the Executive General Manager (EGM) Total Country Services (TCS) Olubunmi Popoola-Mordi said as a responsible energy company, “Total was not only committed to better energy but also committed to the well-being of society where we live and carry out our business as well. Therefore, in line with our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy, we are committed to the improvement of the health of our employees, their families, and the communities within which we carry out our activities. This we do through participating in health programmes,” he said.
Total’s CVD initiative is in direct alignment with the Federal Ministry of Health’s National Strategic Action Plan on Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases (2015), which identifies CVD as a major public health issues in Nigeria. The objective of the project is to reduce the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in Nigeria through awareness and early detection.
Also at the event, the company donated some road safety kits to the Apapa Unit Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to enhance the operations of the command.
The Cardiovascular Disease Initiative
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) like Diabetes, Hypertension, Coronary Heart Disease or Stroke are the leading causes of death in the world. During a recent stakeholder engagement exercise carried out by Total across its sites including Kirikiri, the area was highlighted as being prone to traffic congestion with the health of road users and residents being at risk of CVD.
In response to this need and in line with our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment toward the improvement of the health of our employees, their families, and the communities, the CVD medical outreach was designed. The program aimed to afford road users and residents of Kirikiri town the opportunity to know their vital CVD numbers and enable them to take the necessary precautionary measures in managing their health.
The event which held on 13th November 2013 afforded residents and road users, the opportunity to access free medical screening of blood pressure, blood sugar, and body mass index. Cases that required further attention were referred to the Agboju Primary Health Care Board and the Navy Reference Hospital. Medications were equally administered where necessary by personnel of the Lagos State Ministry of Health who were on ground and partnered with Total on the project.
Beyond free medical screening, educational handbills on healthy living, avoidance of sedentary lifestyle and behaviour modification were massively distributed by employees of Total to members of the public. Members of the Lagos State Ministry of Health equally assisted with mass mobilization and sensitization with the use of the provided educational materials which were published in three Nigerian Languages and English.
Quick data:
– Of the 10,000 educational materials printed, over 7,000 were distributed while the Oriade Primary Health Care centre continues to distribute others to a new audience.
– 874 persons accessed free medical screening of which 458 were male and 416 were female.
– 618 persons were referred for treatment and further management of which 280 are male and 337, female.
– In further response to the traffic control need in the Kirikiri area, Total Nigeria plc donated Traffic Management tools to the Federal Road Safety Corps Outpost in kirikiri.
The Managing Director, Totlal Nigeria Plc Mr. Imrane Barry who was represented at the event by Mrs. Bunmi Popoola-Mordi, the Executive General Manager (Total Country Services) in her speech, reiterated the Company’s commitment to the Health, Safety and Environment of its communities.
He called on other corporate organisations and public institutions to join in the fight against Cardiovascular Disease in Nigeria as he believes that a broad-based multi-sectoral approach with the right partnerships will go a long way to stem the rising tide of cardiovascular disease in Nigeria.
The Oriade LCDA Chairperson Hon. Ramotalai Akinola Hassan who was represented by the Supervisory counsellor Heath, Oriade LCDA Mr. Ajayi Bashiru appreciated Total for being a responsible corporate citizen that considers the interest of its host community as priority.
She equally commended the Lagos State Ministry of Health through the Primary Health Care Board for their collaboration in actualizing the project through support with drugs and provision of referral centres, a very crucial aspect of the entire process.