The Surulere Wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has begun the distribution of 300 pieces of Automated Blood Pressure Monitoring Machines for teachers in 158 schools in the area.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that each school and the four district offices in the local government area of Lagos State will receive one machine.
Speaking at the occasion, the National President, Mr Michael Alogba, lauded the introduction of the machines, saying that the initiative was first of its kind by teachers in Nigeria and Africa.
According to Alogba, such initiative will help to curb the rate of untimely death if teachers are aware of their health status and take immediate steps to tackle it.
“Surulere has done well and it is inherent for the entire teachers to hear of this great contribution to humanity.
“We do not know whose life will be saved with this instrument; there are some avoidable deaths which this instrument will help to prevent.
“I want to thank and appreciate you for standing firm to the ideologies of our founding fathers.
“I will make sure that the branch chairman and Surulere wing of NUT will be recommended for a national award for service to humanity at the forthcoming national conference in Niger,’’ he said.
Alogba, however, called on the Lagos State Government, which has been supportive of teachers and pacesetters, to emulate such initiative by providing and encouraging other local governments to take a cue from Surulere.
Also, the state NUT Chairman, Mr Adesegun Raheem, lauded the initiative and thanked God for helping teachers to put the right peg in the right hole.
Raheem said that gone were the days that unionism was filled with trade disputes, adding, “It was all the time we fight to get what we want”.
According to him, such service to humanity as displayed by the Chairman of Surulere Local Government area should be emulated by the union leaders.
“We have records of untimely death among teachers due to lack of time to check their health status.
“Surulere has helped to reduce untimely death; we should not wait to fall sick, but to check our health status at all times.
“This project will inculcate in the teachers the culture of checking blood pressure once a day.
“This wing of the NUT has piloted activities relating to the welfare of teachers which should be commended,’’ he said.
In his remarks, the Chairman, Surulere Local Government, Mr Joseph Soremekun, said that the welfare of the teachers has become a priority, which every member must feel no matter how little.
Soremekun said that the introduction of the machine was informed by sudden deaths due to both natural occurrences and carelessness among members.
“As such the introduction of the automated blood pressure machine so that a comfortable first aid can be given before moving a victim to the nearest hospital.
“This is to preserve lives and after this, the next level will be to provide sugar level machine in schools,’’ Soremekun said.
Commenting, Mrs Funmilayo Okeowo, the Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary, Education District IV, appreciated the teachers and commended the initiative, describing it “as a timely and laudable project”.
“A healthy workforce will automatically result to improved and quality output, our rank are diminishing due to late detection.
“Prevention, they say is better than cure; with the automatic Blood Pressure machine in schools, teachers can detect early their blood pressure status and thereafter, proceed for proper medical treatment. (NAN)