(Lagos) – 25 APRIL 2019 – Westfield Development Initiative (WDI) will deliver its 6th medical outreach at Akinola field in Agboru in Alimosho Local Government on Saturday, April 27, 2019. Since 2014 WDI has commemorated World Malaria Day by delivering basic medical services and resources to communities in the Alimosho Local Government Area. The 2019 World Malaria Day theme – ‘Zero malaria starts with me’ – aims to keep malaria high on the political agenda, mobilize additional resources and empower communities to take ownership of malaria prevention and care. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), after many decades of steady advances in fighting malaria, progress has leveled off with no significant gains made in reducing malaria in the period 2015-2017.
The WMD 2019 outreach will deliver the following services: body weight, height and BMI checks, high blood pressure & blood sugar screenings, malaria tests for attendees who show symptoms, HIV/AIDS tests, pharmacy service, consultations and counseling service, eye tests and free reading glasses, and health education. Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLINs) will also be distributed to families.
Health educators will repeatedly provide malaria-specific, general health and wellbeing, and environmental care talks to community members as they wait turns to receive service. Volunteers at checkout points will reiterate the importance of appropriate use of LLINs. Medical & para-medical teams from the local government and a volunteer team from Locke International Consultancy will staff the mission which aims to serve up to 800 families. Through its commemorative medical outreaches, WDI is continuing its steady effort at mobilizing and raising awareness towards malaria free communities.
“Malaria is preventable and treatable and WDI outreaches aim to put more LLINs in homes, communicate the message of prevention and appropriate treatment-seeking behavior, and hopefully, improve preventive practices and reduce incidences of malaria in Alimosho”, said Omobola Lana, Executive Director.
Westfield Development Initiative (WDI) is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to improve the quality of life of Nigerians by eliminating conditions and diseases (such as malaria) that hamper economic advancement. Its mission is to make malaria extinct through advocacy, medical missions, malaria centers, and public enlightenment; improve communities and environments where people live and work, and alleviate poverty through skills development and acquisition. WDI envisions a Nigeria without malaria, driven by healthy, productive people, families and communities.