Club reaches out to correctional centre for boys with medical aid

In a bid to give back to the society and better the living condition of the less privileged, Ikeja Exclusive Lion Club (IELC), recently made available medical provisions for the Special Correctional Centre for Boys Oregun (SCCBO), at Ikeja, in order to take care of the pressing and pending medical needs of the boys.

According to Esther Oyinye-Odero, Chattered President of IELC, the need to provide for SCCBO was due to prior enquiries that the boys lack proper healthcare and medication. “The medical provision is a way of giving to these young boys who obviously have need for medical care. So, we not only provided made medications but also food items, and toiletries to improve their health, hygiene and general livelihood. Most of the boys get sick and there are no available provision to cater for their needs.”

She said IELC provides for the less privilege every month through empowerment for youths, healthcare for those, who can’t afford it and take care of the pressing needs of the community.Oyinye-Odero added that IELC’s formation is based on the bond of family and friendship towards others to make a better Nigeria, calling on citizens, who have more than enough to endeavor to help the less privilege.

Speaking to The Guardian, Yemi Olajide, Medical staff of SCCBO under the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, said the ideology behind the creation of the centre was to curb the menace of juvenile delinquency in the society.

“Because of the pervasive issues of teens misbehaviors due to peer influence, pressure, marital breakups, domestic violence or financial instability, there is high rate of juvenile mishaps and criminal activities in the country. The centre is solely under the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, but since the government cannot solely handle the responsibilities, Churches, Mosques and NGOs come in to help support best way possible,” he said.

He said there are cases of run away children leaving their home due to diverse factors in the family and society.“The ones brought in by their parents fall under the category of beyond parental control; these parents voluntarily report their ward’s ill attitudes to the government, who then intervenes,” he said.

Olajide further explained that Lagos State Government created a taskforce in the metropolis to pick students who are not in school during school hours because, the miscreant adults in the hotspot places abuse these children and use them to perpetrate acts of criminality.

“The tendency of these boys becoming criminal elements is increasing and because they are still very young we don’t want them to feel the maximum impact of the law. So, in cases of juvenile delinquencies, we don’t take the boys to the prison; they are brought down here for corrective purposes.

“The boys are between ages 12 and 17 and some of them are also psychologically challenged but are temporarily sheltered here pending when they are transferred to rehabilitation Centre,” he said.Also, Juliet Kojo-Onwueze IELC member hinted that, “the ideology is to look at the immediate community and see how they can assist to meet the needs of mankind on a monthly basis.”