Lions Clubs International, District 404 B4, Nigeria, has provided free medical screening for journalists in Lagos, while urging media practitioners to make regular health checks a priority.
The District Governor of the organisation, Patience Ngene, made the call during a medical outreach organised for journalists at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Lagos on Monday.
She said journalists play an important role in democracy through information dissemination, promoting accountability and giving voice to the voiceless.
Ngene noted that media practitioners often work under demanding conditions, including tight deadlines, long hours, irregular schedules and constant pressure. She said the nature of their work made regular health checks important, particularly because conditions such as hypertension and diabetes could develop without obvious symptoms.
As part of the outreach, journalists received free blood pressure and blood sugar screenings. Ngene encouraged participants to view knowledge of their health status as a form of empowerment and urged those with abnormal results to seek appropriate medical attention and adopt healthier lifestyles.
Also speaking, Franca Duru, District Leadership Nominee for New Voices and Lions Clubs International Foundation Co-Chairperson, said the outreach covered three major areas: distribution of eyeglasses and eye medications, blood pressure checks and blood sugar screening.
She said the initiative formed part of Lions Clubs International’s humanitarian activities aimed at supporting vulnerable people, adding that the organisation would continue extending its services to different segments of society.
