10 teachers die every month in Lagos – TEPO

THE Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Teachers’ Establishment and Pension Office (TEPO), Sewanu Ayodele-Amosu, on Tuesday sad an average of 10 secondary school teachers die every month in Lagos State.

Ayodele-Amosu, who disclosed this at a Sensitisation Seminar and Capacity Building on Healthy Living for Post-Primary Teaching Staff of the state, said the seminar would be held regularly to help provide teachers with the knowledge required to stem the tide.

“This is another contributory factor for this worrisome adverse health condition of the teachers. This health seminar will be held quarterly to educate teachers on the importance of healthy living and to provide support for those that have health challenges.

“This seminar is designed to effect real behavioural changes among staff of the post-primary teaching service and promote capacity for maintenance and sustainability of good and vibrant health,’’ she said.

The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Idiat Adebule, however, gave the assurance that issues that border on teachers’ welfare would continue to receive urgent adequate attention from the state government.

She said teachers would soon be issued “Health Cards”, which would enable them to receive medical care at Lagos-owned health institutions.

She said: “The health card will be part of the requirements for promotion as a way of motivating our teachers to go for regular health checks. I urge you to take timeout and take care of yourselves and your health because it is only when you are healthy that you can deliver efficiently.”

The seminar was attended by teachers and health experts who spoke on a wide range of issues, including the relevance of regular physical exercises.