Babatunde Okewale, a leading Nigerian medical expert and Group Medical Director of St Ives Hospital has canvassed for government policies for free medical treatment and education for vulnerable populations across the country.
Okewale noted that such policy has become inevitable and imperative, considering the poverty rate in the country, which has affected the ability of many people, families to pay for essential things.
The medical expert said this at the hospital’s 2025, children’s Day party held in Ikeja, Lagos.
He said in many countries there are policies for children and women to access free and education to a certain level, noting that with the economic situation in the country now, many vulnerable Nigerians are suffering and can’t access this basic need.
According to Okewale, “Truly in any society, there are vulnerable groups. Women and children are part of that group; they should not make it difficult for them to access health care and education.
“In many countries it is free at that level, since you are a child or woman who is pregnant.
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“If you are a woman you can take that. So, the government needs to do more in that regard. They should focus more on formulating policies, so that the vulnerable and other people would be able to pay”.
Speaking further, the medical expert said the essence of the Children Day party was to celebrate children, noting that it was an annual event that has expanded.
“Children need to be celebrated and the children need to know they are valued. We want the children to grow up in the spirit of collaboration”, he stated.
A parent, Adeyemi Adeniyi, thanked the hospital for the initiative, saying that the children’s party would foster collaboration and create better relationships between the hospital and its patients.
Similarly, another parent, Iroha Nnoka, equally commended St Ives Hospital for the event, saying that the children’s party would help in cementing bonding between parents and the hospital.
