ABOUT ECI
Eko Club International (ECI) is a not-for-profit organization of Lagosians (Lagosians are people from Lagos State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria) in the diaspora notably US, Canada and Europe. ECI is established to foster cooperation and collaboration, unity, brotherhood and sisterhood amongst its members, to empower its members politically, socially and economically and to contribute positively to the advancement and prosperity of Lagos State.
The mission of ECI is to advance, promote and project the cultural, social, political and economic lives of Lagosians anywhere in the world.
ECI is embarking on the medical mission as a contribution towards the advancement and prosperity of Lagos State.
ECI’s MEDICAL MISSION
The goal of the ECI’s Medical Mission is to promote healthy living amongst the people of Lagos State, Nigeria through education, treatment and provision of essential medicines. The mission will address major public health issues and preventable diseases. It will focus on Diabetes, Hypertension, Asthma and Infectious Diseases and including HIV/AIDS. The mission will also promote health education and screenings for High Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar Testing and Urinalysis for detection of protein in the urine (an early marker for kidney disease). Treatment and medicines will be provided for the diagnosed health problems.
As part of the goal is to have the team of local health care providers that have volunteered their services and expertise to follow-up with the patients, monitor them and provide additional care if it is needed.
A 10-minute Audio/Visual Presentation Designed to Recruit Health Experts
for a 2007 Medical Mission to Lagos Sponsored by Eko Club International
Draft – 01/29/07
Why is a Medical Mission to Lagos State important? Why should a mission such as this be considered top priority?
When you think of Lagos, what do you think? It’s hard to think of one thing when Lagos is so many things. Lagos is Business. As the largest city in Nigeria and home to more people than anywhere else in Africa, it is a bustling metropolis teaming with industries that include agriculture, petroleum, automotive, textiles, and pharmaceuticals. It is the nation’s economic and commercial capital—being home to Nigeria’s chief ports-- and, the hub of Nigeria’s financial system.
Lagos is culture. With the region surrounding the city being home to more than 250 ethnic groups, Lagos is a melting pot of diverse flavors and unique style. Famous throughout West Africa for its music scene, Lagos has given birth to a variety of music genres such as Highlife, Juju, Fuji, and Afrobeat. In recent years, Lagos has taken the world by storm with its unique style of African Hip-Hop. Lagos is also the center of the Nigerian film industry-- often referred to as the Hollywood of Nigeria or “Nollywood.” Lagos, like its people, is a mixture of sophistication and earthy charm.
Lagos is Natural Beauty. With the Atlantic coast as Nigeria’s border, the city and state of Lagos covers 910,768 square kilometers and boasts 13,000 square kilometers of vast, unspoiled coconut-tree lined beaches of fine, clean sand. It also has one of the most temperate climates. Temperatures range from 75 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit, with July being its coolest month.
Lagos is a State of Mind! Lagos is trendy and chique; Lagos is ‘cool’. Lagos is boisterous, fast and progressive. Lagos can pack quite a punch but can also be refreshingly laid back and gentle. Name it and Lagos has seen it all!!!
In Lagos, you can find the best of both worlds: metropolitan sophistication as well as rural, simplicity and beauty. That’s one of the reasons why it’s one of the fastest growing territories in Africa. In just 50 years, Lagos’ population has grown from less than half a million to more than 12 million. The United Nations predicts that the city's metropolitan area, which had only about 290,000 inhabitants in 1950, will exceed 20 million by 2010. This will make Lagos one of the world's five largest cities.
And with that population explosion has come some of the problems that plague urban areas around the world, but particularly in this part of the world.
The blending of cultures and the changing nature of commerce has resulted in a change in way of life for many. Diets that were once rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, roots, and meat have been replaced by processed meals and fast food. And, the surge in automotive and mass transportation has resulted in a more sedentary lifestyle for many. It’s no surprise that these lifestyle changes have led to an increase in Diabetes and Hypertension—which has increased significantly in recent years. Health officials estimate that about 10 million Nigerians have Diabetes, with about half of those cases located in Lagos.
Officials also estimate that more than eight million Nigerians suffer from hypertension. Of this number, 4.3 million are aged 15 years and above.
Malaria, a deadly disease that is very common in this region, kills thousands of children each day in Africa and already nearly 2.9 million people in Nigeria are estimated to be living with HIV. Increased incidence has also been reported in other diseases such as Kidney failure, Asthma, Breast, Lung, Prostate, and Colon cancers.
While Lagos isn’t experiencing as severe a health crisis as other parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, now is the time for proactive work to ensure that it continues to be progressive and meet the needs and challenges of its rapidly growing community.
We in the medical profession know that most of the diseases and deaths can be avoided or greatly reduced. Effective medicine and vaccines are available that can control Malaria. Improved nutrition and medication can prevent and/or control Diabetes, Hypertension and certain Cancers. Education, Medical Screening, testing, teamed with risk factor modification, can stop the spread of HIV/AIDS, and control the accelerated incidence of Diabetes, Hypertension, Kidney Diseases, and Asthma.
The power to prevent, treat, and impact thousands is in our hands. That is why the Eko Club International—an umbrella organization of Lagosians—is putting together a team of medical experts including physicians, nurses, medical technicians, and others in the field, for a rare opportunity to not only experience all that Lagos has to offer, but to be a part of its successful future.
Eko Club International, also known as ECI, empowers its members in the United States, Canada, and Europe politically, socially and economically and encourages them to contribute positively and meaningfully to the advancement and prosperity of Lagos State. Its mission is to advance and promote the cultural, social, political and economic lives of Lagosians anywhere in the world.
Our medical team will address preventable diseases and major public health issues like Diabetes, Hypertension, and Infectious diseases. The team will not only work to provide increased health education but also perform important health screenings for high blood glucose, high blood pressure, and other life threatening risk factors. we will also work with a network of local healthcare providers who will follow-up with patients so that our work continues even after our mission is over.
Dr. Nurudeen Olowopopo, one of Chicago’s leading physicians and health experts who has helped thousands of Lagosians in Nigeria receive free medical attention; Dr. Olabisi Jagun, chief of the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension at Howard University; and the leadership of Eko International invite you to join them on this life changing mission to Lagos, from July 8, to July 21, 2007.
Our extraordinary medical team will be partnering with the Epe and Ikeja local governments of Lagos state who will coordinate the key elements of our stay in Lagos, such as lodging, ground transportation, and security, to ensure a seamless and productive mission. Accommodations for all participants will be free .
Our work is important, and so we are asking those who join our team to commit to the first week, the second week, or the duration of both weeks: “Please Commit to Week 1, Week 2 or Week 1 and 2” so that we can provide medical care to as many as possible.
Yes, Lagos is many things but most of all it is a future of endless possibilities for millions of Africans. Think of Lagos and help us to preserve it as the extraordinary land of business, culture, and beauty that it is.
For more information on the ECI Medical Mission, send an email to gbolahan.gbadamosi@state.mn.us.T.J. Abass at tjadejef@aol.com or to Olabisi Jagun, MD, FACP.(Francesjmd@aol.com )
Join us. It will be the experience of a lifetime.
