Agoro: Healthy Staff Are Productive Staff – Screening Has No Deadline
The Lagos State Government has flagged off its 2026 Annual Medical Screening Programme for public servants, urging workers to embrace routine checks and “know your numbers” to catch silent health conditions early.
The exercise, tagged “Public Servants, Know Your Numbers” opened at the Folarin Coker Staff Clinic, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja. Head of Service, Bode Agoro led the flag-off and toured the facility, including the Lagos State Employee Wellness Centre (LASWELL), where he called for greater focus on mental health.
“A healthy staff is a happy staff, and a happy staff is a productive staff,” Agoro said. “Many of us do not take our health seriously, but this must change.”
The programme offers free screening for blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and BMI. Men above 45 can access prostate checks, while women receive breast screening where necessary. Doctors, nurses, nutritionists, and physiotherapists are on ground for comprehensive care.
Critical cases will be referred and covered under the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme.Agoro said the initiative was continuous with no fixed end date, encouraging civil servants to check regularly. He noted that funding covers free medications, with plans to scale up drug supply through private-sector CSR partnerships.
He also stressed lifestyle changes exercise, nutrition, rest, and stress management, saying the work environment is “increasingly stressful and can trigger various health conditions.”
Agoro commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for prioritising staff welfare, calling him a “Talk and Do” leader.Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Doctor Dayo Lajide, said the campaign targets silent non-communicable diseases often detected late. She added that the Folarin Coker Clinic runs a walk-in system, so staff can access care anytime.
Director of Staff Health Services, Doctor Abdulrasheed Kolade, said the programme screens 3,500 to 4,000 workers yearly from 14 to 15 Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
LASWELL Nursing Officer, Olushola Callisto, said the centre provides counselling, therapy, and psychiatric support for stress, insomnia, and depression, with an open-door policy to fight stigma.Association of Senior Civil Servants Chairman, Olusegun Balogun, praised the expanded screening, noting the shift to biannual checks as a major welfare gain.
A Beneficiary, Funmi Daramola of the Public Service Office thanked government for the health education and tests, saying it empowered staff to adopt healthier lifestyles.
