Layi Erogbogbo Foundation Sensitizes 500 Students, Teachers on Thyroid Disease

L-R: Founder, LEF, Mr. Goriola Erogbogbo; an Endocrinologist, Dr. Bolanle Okunowo and founding Patron, (LEF)-former Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Omolara Erogbogbo at the sensitization programme on Thyroid disease prevention.

About 500 students, teaching and non-teaching staff from both public and private schools in Lagos State recently benefitted from the awareness and sensitization campaign on thyroid disease program organized by Layi Erogbogbo Foundation (LEF).

Speaking at the maiden edition of the program in commemoration of the World Thyroid Day in Oregun Senior High School Ikeja, the founder, Mr. Goriola Erogbogbo disclosed that about 500 students and teachers in public and private schools in the State were targeted with the intent to enlighten them about the disease and related issues.

He mentioned that the vision of the Foundation is to protect and enhance the health of the less privileged through surgical operations for about 100 patients annually besides meeting their medical needs through community outreaches to over 2 million Lagosians. “It is our belief that health management approach will help us achieve our aims of preserving and enhancing the lives of the less privileged families for their well-being and success,” he remarked. 

Stating the objectives of the Foundation, Erogbogbo said that LEF, a non-profit organization is dedicated to providing support with highly subsidized access to surgery, pre-surgery tests and treatment to tackle Goitre disease, raising awareness to promote knowledge in respect of preventive measures against the occurrences of the diseases amongst the citizenry while also advocating positive lifestyle to reduce the manifestation.

He said the organization intends partnering with the Lagos State Ministry of Education to organize free awareness campaign for public and privately-owned secondary schools in the State on the importance of optimal functioning of the thyroid gland in childhood, during pregnancy and throughout adult life. He said the decision to take the campaign to schools is anchored on the fact that the youths are the most vulnerable group due to their unhealthy lifestyle and ignorance of the consequences.

While disclosing that the theme of this year’s campaign is “Know your neck, check your Thyroid.” He noted that the World Thyroid Day is dedicated to thyroid patients and all professionals including those who are committed to the study and treatment of thyroid diseases worldwide.

Answering the question on how the foundation funds its activities to achieve its objectives, Erogbogbo stated that funds are raised from the founder’s equity contributions, donations from Corporate organizations and public spirited individuals that share the vision of the foundation. 

Advising the participants on the significant of the materials distributed at the event, he charged them to utilize them and spread the knowledge they have acquired about the disease to others, especially
family members, friends and colleagues to further drive home the campaign amongst the citizenry.

In her remarks, the patron of the foundation,  Mrs. Omolara Erogbogbo revealed that the foundation is all in the memory of her late husband who died 15 years ago.

“He went for goitre operation, the operation was successful, unfortunately, he didn’t survive the post operation management by the hospital and ever since, the children have been saying we need to do something in his memory because he was such an amiable person. So Goriola being the first son, took the bull by the horn and said let’s have a foundation in memory of our Dad,” she explained.

Commenting on the significance of the program, she said, “People need to be aware of what goitre is, the challenges around it, how it starts and that’s the essence of today. Being World Thyroid Day, we believe it is a good starting point at least to start with children; the children will be able to go back home and tell their parents and educate them better."

She further advised, "taking alcohol and smoking contribute to some of these deficiencies in our system. We should have enough iodine in whatever we eat so as to avoid this kind of problems." 

Topics delivered at the program include Basic steps to reduce family risk factors, Preventive measures and control of thyroid disease, Signs and symptoms of thyroid disease as well as food and healthy living.