The Edo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding social welfare programmes aimed at improving the wellbeing of women, girls and the elderly through strategic partnerships with faith-based and professional organisations.
The assurance was given by the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, during a courtesy visit by members of the Catholic Nurses Guild of Nigeria, Archdiocese of Benin, to Government House in Benin City.
According to a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer, Office of the First Lady, Gloria Osemudiamhen, Mrs. Anani commended the Guild for its sustained advocacy on public health awareness, its campaign against criminal abortion and human trafficking, noting that the Office shares its commitment to protecting the dignity and wellbeing of women, children and families.
She disclosed that the state government is expanding its social welfare interventions, particularly for senior citizens, revealing that discussions are ongoing to strengthen support systems for the elderly across Edo State.
Mrs. Anani said the government has already extended assistance to elderly associations and is developing a major initiative to improve the welfare and quality of life of older persons.
She also pledged the Office’s support for programmes of the Catholic Nurses Guild that align with the administration’s healthcare and social development agenda.
The Coordinator announced that her pet project, the BeLiEF and Care Foundation, will soon launch a Pad Bank Initiative to provide free sanitary pads to girls, especially those in underserved communities.
According to her, the initiative will also educate adolescent girls on menstrual hygiene, reproductive health and personal care to help them manage their menstrual health with confidence and dignity.
Speaking on healthcare, Mrs. Anani praised Governor Monday Okpebholo for procuring modern In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) equipment, describing the investment as a major step towards reducing the cost of fertility treatment and improving access to quality reproductive healthcare for residents of the state.
Earlier, the Regional President of the Catholic Nurses Guild of Nigeria, Archdiocese of Benin, Mrs. Roseline Okooboh, said the organisation is a faith-based professional body affiliated with the International Catholic Committee of Nurses in Rome and is committed to promoting quality healthcare and humanitarian services.
She noted that the Guild’s interventions include elderly care, menstrual hygiene education, sanitary pad distribution in schools and fertility care services through its Benin City clinic, which serves people regardless of their religious affiliation.
Mrs. Okooboh appealed to the Office of the First Lady to support the Guild’s efforts by providing sanitary pads for schoolgirls, expanding healthcare outreach to rural communities and assisting couples who cannot afford fertility investigations and treatment.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration to promote women’s health, protect vulnerable groups and improve healthcare and social welfare across Edo State in line with the SHINE Agenda of Governor Monday Okpebholo, the statement added.
