Cerebral Palsy: Health experts meet in Lagos

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For the third time, health administrators, educators, researchers and advocates from within and outside the country will come together to brainstorm on cerebral palsy.

The meeting, aimed at providing effective management regime for persons with cerebral palsy in Nigeria according to a statement issued in Lagos by the founder of Benola Cerebral Palsy, Air Vice Marshal Femi Gbadebo (Rtd), would hold on Thursday, September 26, 2013, at Peninsula Hotel, Lekki.

Among those scheduled to attend the meeting on October 26 and 27 are Professor Afolabi Lesi, Consultant Paediatrician and Dean Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Dr Emeka Ejeliogu, Consultant Neurologist, Dept. of Paediatric Neurology, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Dr Seyi Roberts, Consultant Neurologist, Royal Cross Hospital, Obalende, Lagos, Dr Femi Mobolaji-Lawal, Consultant Paediatrician and Medical Director, Emel Specialist Hospital & Paediatric Centre, FESTAC Village, Lagos, Air Cdre (Dr) Bashir Yakasai, Consultant Psychiatrist, NAF Medical Services, Abuja, Dr. Charles Umeh, Consultant Clinical Psychology and Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Dr Babatunde Palomeras, Community Health Expert and Medical Director, J-Rapha Hospital, Owode, Ajah, Dr. Saad Tajudeen, Dept of
Rehabilitation Sciences, Kaduna Polytechnic. Kaduna, Mrs Frya Bulus, Dept of Rehabilitation, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Abuja, Representative of the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Representative of Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Representative of Permanent Secretarym Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mr
Akinola Olabisi, Principal Consultant, Centre for Learning Disabilities and Audiology, Abuja, Dr. Tunji Funsho, Consultant Cardiologist and Chairman of the Benola Board, Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike CFR, Security Consultant and Chairman KEMSAD Ventures, Oniru
Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos, Mr. Nebolisa Arah, Financial Adviser and Management Consultant, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, Mr Dayo Lawuyi, Chartered Accountant and Management Consultant and CEO at Angus Newman Consultants. Victoria Island, Lagos, Dr. Ije Jidenma, Management Consultant, CEO Leading Edge Consulting, S.W. Ikoyi, Lagos, Mr Ola
Oyelola, Financial Consultant, CEO at Bridge House Group, Abuja, Mrs Viola Ombu, Media Consultant and Director at Rodney Emmanuel Technologies. Victoria Island, Lagos, Engr Adeniji Raji, Consultant Communications Engineer, Chairman at Raden Investments, Oniru Estate, Lagos, Mr Ayo Joseph, Management Consultant and CEO at SAFI International, Abuja, Ms Anne Rinu, Corporate Real Estate and Management Consultant, Lekki, Lagos, Mr Bashar Dankaro, Financial Consultant, Executive Director at Imperial Asset Managers Limited, Ikeja, Lagos, Dr Iyabo Kudaya Consultant Paediatrician and Medical Director, Lifeline Children’s Hospital, Lekki, Lagos and Mr. Yusuf Enebi, Legal Practitioner and Principal Partner, Emerging Partners Law Firm, Ikoyi, Lagos ”.

“Having gathered enough data on the state of Cerebral Palsy in Nigeria, Benola is now ready to move to the next stage in the preparation of the Roadmap for the management Regime of Cerebral Palsy in Nigeria, through a process that will involve another Roundtable Meeting” the statement said.

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Continuing, the statement said “At the end of the meeting, a writing team will be appointed to ensure that a draft copy is ready by December 2013.

“It is expected that following a period of further consultations, the finished document, A Roadmap for Early Detection and effective Management Regime for Cerebral Palsy in Nigeria, will be ready for presentation to the Nigerian public in the 1st quarter of 2014” the
statement said.

At its first Public Presentation on 26th February 2013, The Founder/Chief Executive Officer of Benola: A Cerebral Palsy Initiative, AVM Femi Gbadebo OFR, stated that one of the primary objectives of the initiative was to help determine an effective management regime for Cerebral Palsy in Nigeria

“Over the past nine months, there is ample evidence to show that the initiative has been working hard to do just that, having held numerous one on one contacts with medical experts and members of the academia.The Federal and state governments were also not left out in these consultations as Benola also incorporated their representatives in the workshops and brainstorming sessions which they held within the period, like the Roundtable meeting of Experts in April 2013 and the First National Cerebral Palsy Family Forum of 20 July 2013, a forum that resulted from Benola’s interactions and counselling sessions, through e-mail, telephone and direct contact, with over 150 concerned parents and care-givers from all over Nigeria” the statement added.

Meanwhile high profile persons, including state leaders, ministers, diplomats, high-ranking officials from world organizations and Chief Executive Officers of international corporations will attend the Benola Cocktail Party.

Ghana Chief of Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Mathew Quashie will deliver the keynote address while the deputy governor of Benue State, Chief Steven Obekpa Lawani, will present plaque to Benola ambassadors.

“It is a gathering of Cerebral Palsy patients, families, providers, administrators, educators, researchers, advocates and funders” AVM Femi Gbadebo (Rtd) said in a statement in Lagos.

The statement also announced the recognition of Uche Maduekwe of Open Doors for Special Learners, Jos and Olu Busola Akinsola of Children Development Centre, Surulere as worthy ambassadors of Benola.

“The Cocktail Party and Partners/Sponsors Recognition Night scheduled to hold on Wednesday, October 2, 2013 at Lagos Oriental Hotel, 3 Lekki Road, Victoria Island is to mark World Cerebral Palsy Day, a day when Benola will join hundreds of other like-minded organizations and over 14 Million people world-wide to celebrate those living with Cerebral
Palsy” the statement said.

“The event is also expected to provide a discussion forum for policy makers and innovative thinkers on the treatment of cerebral palsy” the statement added.

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