COWLSO seeks justice against crime perpetrators, others

• Urges bills to compel women to join politics
• Lagos wants improved access to healthcare services

The Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) has urged the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly to ensure bills that would guarantee quick and effective justice delivery to perpetrators of crimes and violence against women.

It maintained that the laws should also enable compulsory women leadership, thereby creating an enabling environment for women participation in politics and empowerment training, access to education and medical treatment for physically and mental-challenged women.

The committee, which stated these in a communiqué issued at the end of its three-day national women’s conference, noted that there were still not enough women in the political space or at the helm of affairs even though they are blessed with the power to transform and recreate anything they are part of.

“There are several inhibiting factors, which include lack of support and equal opportunities; denial of education for the girl-child, gender-based violence and more, all of which must be overcome to make this a reality.

“Improved personal productivity, fulfillment and health are some of the impacts of sexuality and family planning on nation building. Hence, they should be encouraged while downplaying the several myths associated with family planning,” the communiqué stated.

The committee, therefore, urged families to employ intentional parenting and a healthy co-parenting dynamic to ensure that the foundation is not destroyed and children are not at the mercy of external socialising forces, which they may not be able to filter for proper development.

However, COWLSO has urged the government, through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Policy Alleviation at the federal and state levels, to organise seminars from time to time to educate women on how to keep basic financial records in an effective way, so as to access funds and position them for global opportunities.

It noted that there should be awareness and engagement in the advocacy to encourage screening so that the three preventable types of cancer – breast and cervical (for women) and prostate (for men) would actually remain prevented.

IN another development, Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board has urged improved qualitative, geographical and social access to healthcare services in Nigeria.

It also stressed the need to revisit healthcare policies, especially on financing, development and public-private partnership for the development of the sector.

Chairman of the board, Prof. Akin Osibogun, who was represented by a member of the board, Dr. Bolaji Obadeyi, stated this at the fourth edition of Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba yearly research conference, titled “Insecurity, Conflicts and the Pandemic: Impact on Mental Health.”

He called for enhanced public health preparedness and response, which would include health intelligence, proactive and preventive use of cost effective interventions, improved service delivery and others.