Edo Govt Reaffirms Commitment to Social Welfare for Women, Elderly

The Edo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening social welfare programmes through the promotion of women’s health, protecting the girl-child, enhancing elderly care, through strategic collaboration with faith-based and professional organisations.

The Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, gave the assurance while receiving members of the Catholic Nurses Guild of Nigeria, Archdiocese of Benin, during a courtesy visit to Government House in Benin City.

Mrs. Anani commended the Guild for its sustained advocacy on public health awareness, the fight against criminal abortion and the campaign against human trafficking, noting that the Office shares the organisation’s pro-life values and remains committed to supporting initiatives that promote the dignity and wellbeing of women, children and families.

She disclosed that the Office is expanding its social welfare interventions, particularly in the area of elderly care, and revealed that discussions were ongoing to strengthen support systems for senior citizens across the State.

According to her, the State Government has already extended assistance to the Elderly Associations and developing a major initiative aimed at improving the welfare and quality of life of older persons.

Mrs. Anani also pledged the Office’s support for programmes and activities of the Catholic Nurses Guild that align with the administration’s vision for improved healthcare and social development.

The Coordinator highlighted menstrual hygiene as one of the key priorities of the Office, and announced that her pet project, the BeLiEF and Care Foundation, will soon launch a Pad Bank Initiative to provide sanitary pads for girls, particularly those in underserved communities.

She explained that the initiative will not only provide menstrual hygiene products but will also educate adolescent girls on proper menstrual hygiene, reproductive health and personal care to ensure that they are equipped with the knowledge and confidence to manage their menstrual health with dignity.

On healthcare, Mrs. Anani commended the Governor, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, for the procurement of modern In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) equipment, describing the intervention as a major milestone that will significantly reduce the cost of fertility treatment for couples seeking reproductive healthcare in Edo State. She said the investment demonstrates the administration’s unwavering commitment to improving healthcare delivery and expanding access to quality medical services for residents.

On behalf of the Guild, the Regional President of the Catholic Nurses Guild of Nigeria, Archdiocese of Benin, Mrs. Roseline Okooboh, described the Organisation as a faith-based professional body affiliated with the International Catholic Committee of Nurses in Rome, dedicated to promoting quality healthcare and humanitarian services.

Mrs. Okooboh outlined the Guild’s key intervention areas to include elderly care, menstrual hygiene education and sanitary pad distribution in schools, as well as fertility care services provided through its Benin City Clinic, which serves people irrespective of their religious affiliation. She appealed to the Office of the First Lady for support in providing sanitary pads for schoolgirls, expanding healthcare outreach programmes to rural communities and assisting couples who are unable to afford fertility investigations and treatment.

The engagement ended with both parties reaffirming their commitments to strengthening collaboration in promoting women’s health, protecting vulnerable groups, advancing social welfare and improving healthcare outcomes across Edo State, in line with the SHINE Agenda of the Governor.