10 Things To Note About Governor Sanwo-Olu’s Eko Cares Initiative

10 Things To Note About Governor Sanwo-Olu’s Eko Cares Initiative - Politics -

September 24, 2024

The ‘Eko Cares’ initiatives, launched in April 2024, by Governor Sanwo-Olu, is the umbrella signature for the following campaigns: ‘Alafia Eko/ Ilera Eko’; ‘Ounje Eko’ Sunday Market; ‘Eko Fund Me’’; ‘Owo Isowo Eko’; and ‘Edinwo Owo Oko Eko’.

These social interventions are focused on lessening the burden of more than 500,000 Lagos households amid the current economic hardship.

1. It Covers Multiple Key Areas of Social Welfare
Gov. Sanwo-Olu’s Eko Cares Initiative focuses on five main pillars: health, nutrition, transportation, education, and agriculture. These areas are vital for the holistic development and well-being of Lagos residents, with a special focus on vulnerable populations in the state’s in the 20 LGAS, and 37 LCDAs.

2. Alaafia Eko Provides Free Healthcare
Alaafia Eko is the healthcare component of the initiative, offering free health services across Lagos State. From general consultations to maternal and child healthcare, the programme is designed to ensure that no one is left behind when it comes to medical care.
The outreach also serves as an opportunity for beneficiaries to get firsthand professional medical advisory on family planning/ childbirth spacing counseling; free blood sugar check; HIV counseling and testing; and health insurance registration.

3. Alaafia Eko Targets Six Health Districts for Maximum Coverage

To ensure widespread access, Alaafia Eko operates in six health districts across Lagos, with each district hosting multiple outreach locations. This strategy ensures that both urban and semi-urban populations can easily access medical services.

4. Over 19,000 Residents Have Benefited from Alaafia Eko

The healthcare initiative has served over 19,000 people since its inception, providing a range of essential services, including immunisations, health education, and free eyeglasses for more than 8,000 beneficiaries.

5. Ounje Eko Tackles Food Insecurity

Ounje Eko, the food security arm of the initiative, directly addresses hunger by distributing staple food items like garri, beans, and rice at highly discounted rates, to help residents cope with the current economic challenges.

6. 250,000 Households Reached Through Ounje Eko
In its first phase, Ounje Eko has reached over 250,000 households, providing significant relief to Lagosians facing rising living costs, particularly in vulnerable communities. The areas reached in the first phase are: Coker-Aguda LCDA; Bariga (Bariga Legislative Chamber); Agboyi Ketu LCDA; Kosofe LGA; Apapa Iganmu LCDA; Yaba LCDA; Mainland LGA; and Ifako-Ijaiye LGA.

7. Three Components of Ounje Eko
Ounje Eko operates through direct food distribution, the Free Meal Programme, and Ounje Eko Sunday Markets, where food items are sold at 25% discount. These multiple layers ensure that the programme reaches a wide range of people.

8. 58 Sunday Market Locations
The Sunday Markets are the cornerstone of the food security scheme, with 58 strategically located sites across Lagos, offering residents affordable access to essential food items.

9. Ounje Eko’s Impressive Distribution Numbers
Ounje Eko’s first phase distributed 125,560 kg of rice, 43,637 kg of beans, 50,028 kg of garri, 222,881 loaves of bread, and 173,480 crates of eggs, making a significant impact on Lagosians’ food security.

10. Phase 2 of Ounje Eko Promises Even Greater Reach
With Phase 1 of Ounje Eko completed, Phase 2 is already rolling out with an expansion plan. More Sunday Market locations are expected to open, offering further relief to residents through continued discounts on essential food items.