By Ayomide Otitoju
The Lagos State Government has flagged off the 2026 Annual Medical Screening Programme for public servants, urging workers to prioritise their health through routine checks to enhance productivity and longevity in service.
The initiative, themed “Public Servants, Know Your Numbers,” was inaugurated on Tuesday at the Folarin Coker Staff Clinic by the Head of Service, Bode Agoro, who emphasised the strong link between workforce health and effective public service delivery.
Following the flag-off, Agoro inspected key facilities, including the Lagos State Employee Wellness Centre, where he called for greater attention to mental health and overall wellbeing among civil servants. He commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for prioritising staff welfare.
Agoro noted that maintaining Lagos State’s performance standards requires a physically and mentally fit workforce, urging employees to take advantage of the screening programme, particularly as many health conditions remain undetected without routine checks. He added that the initiative is continuous, encouraging workers to regularly monitor key indicators such as blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
The Head of Service disclosed that government funding has been provided to support the programme, including free medications, while partnerships with the private sector are being explored to expand drug availability.
Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dayo Lajide, described the programme as a strategic effort to promote preventive healthcare among civil servants. She said the campaign focuses on raising awareness of critical health indicators linked to non-communicable diseases, which are often detected late.
Lajide added that trained healthcare professionals—including doctors, nurses, nutritionists and physiotherapists—have been deployed to provide comprehensive services, while critical cases identified during screening would be referred and supported through the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme.
Director of Staff Health Services, Abdulrasheed Kolade, said the programme targets between 3,500 and 4,000 civil servants annually across 14 to 15 Ministries, Departments and Agencies. He noted that routine checks include blood pressure measurement, fasting blood sugar tests and Body Mass Index assessments, alongside specialised screenings such as prostate checks for men above 45 and breast screening for women where necessary.
Also speaking, a nursing officer at LASWELL, Olushola Callisto, highlighted the centre’s role in promoting mental health through counselling, therapy and psychiatric support for conditions such as stress, insomnia and depression.
Chairman of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, Lagos State Council, Olusegun Balogun, commended the government for expanding the screening programme, noting that regular checks enable early detection and timely intervention.
A beneficiary, Funmi Daramola, expressed appreciation for the initiative, describing it as a valuable platform for health education and access to essential medical services.
