The Lagos State branch of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN) has sought the support of its registered members to enable it to tackle health challenges of women and children in the society.

It also appealed to female medical doctors and dentists, as well as professional female associations and well-meaning female bodies and organisations in Lagos State, to collaborate with it in tackling the challenges through healing practices rooted in love and motherhood.

The new President of the association, Dr. Funmilayo Ige, who spoke during the 23rd biennial conference/investiture, and 13th Irene Thomas Memorial Lecture in Lagos with the theme: “Investing in the Health and well-being of Adolescents and Young People,” said that whatever is harvested during the fund-raising would lead to “greater harvests of sound health of mind and body of countless women and children in the communities and would be for the public good.”

She, therefore, urged members and stakeholders to contribute their quota to the service of humanity, adding that the organisation would continue to embark on the laudable basic programmes of promoting health education and screening of preventable cancers (breast and cervical).

“We shall focus on the following cardinal areas in the overall interest of the good people of Lagos State, particularly through various means, such as scaling up diverse health education and public enlightenment activities among women, as well as children with special focus on adolescent health issues,” Ige said.

Others, she listed, include reaching out to the vulnerable, especially widows, orphans, and the physically-challenged; gap-bridging and inclusiveness through active involvement, mentoring, and capacity building of our young colleagues, among others.

According to the president, to achieve all these and more, MWAN would adopt strategies, such as advocacy, interfacing, and partnership with the Lagos State Government, as well as Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to upgrade health systems; strengthening through collaboration and partnership with other medical bodies.

In her valedictory remarks, the immediate-past President of the association, Dr. Ibironke Sodeinde, said the focus of the biennium had been centred on diversity, inclusiveness, and branded rewarding stewardship.

She further disclosed that the association had in the last two years made progress in the areas of maiden mentorship, training programmes in cohorts, maiden boys and girls initiative, and continued promotion of anti-gender-based violence campaigns, among others.

She, therefore, urged the new executives to continue with the lofty programmes of the association to guarantee steady growth.