Bloom Buddy, an autism teleconsultation service, has held its first-ever well health conference in Lagos, exploring new health strategies for Nigerians.
The conference was held in partnership with NBC Coca-Cola, I-Fitness, Pediatric Partners Hospital, Lakeshore Cancer Center, MyCover.ai, and other notable institutions.
It showcased a panel of health and wellness speakers in expert-led sessions focused on preventive healthcare practices, integrated wellness, general wellness, neurodevelopment in children, physical fitness, mental wellness strategies, nutrition, personal life coaching and access to healthcare insurance coverage.
Exhibitors included representatives from healthcare providers, health tech companies, a pharmaceutical company and natural cosmetics company.
The event also featured a Zumba and African dance workout session hosted by I-Fitness, West Africa’s fast-growing fitness chain, blood pressure checks by Paediatric Partners Hospital, and access to breast cancer screenings by Lakeshore Cancer Center.
Affordable health insurance coverage signups were offered by MyCover.ai, an autism screening station educating parents about early screenings and intervention for children by Bloom Buddy, while the nutrition centre and a hydration station were sponsored by the Nigerian Bottling Company.
Bloom Buddy is at the forefront of advocating for new mindsets and new behaviour for Nigeria to develop a healthier workforce and ensure long-term prosperity.
According to World Health Organisation and data from the Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), Nigeria is ranked 187th out of 195 countries for life expectancy with an average life expectancy of just 54 years. 1/4 of Nigerians (26%) are estimated to be overweight or obese with only 1/3 of Nigerians engaging in regular physical activity.
Even more alarming statistics are that nearly 60 million Nigerians suffer from various mental illnesses according to the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN) with suicide being a leading cause of death among young people aged 15-29 years and only 1 in 10 people with mental health problems receiving treatment. Even more staggering is the dearth in health safety net coverage with a mere 3% of Nigerians being covered by health insurance causing many families to expend more than 70% of health expenses out-of-pocket.
These statistics reveal the great need for initiatives like the Well Health Conference, a first of its kind in Lagos that brings together the public to build awareness and empower the community on living well, choosing healthier choices and making small changes that can have a big impact on overall health which aligns with Bloom Buddy’s mission to improve access to healthcare improve the lives of children and their families.
CEO of Bloom Buddy, Sola Fatoba, explained that “the state of wellness in Nigeria is far from where it needs to be for us and our children. We hope that today’s conversation will be a starting point for enlightenment and change for many of Nigerians on improving health and well-being.
“One of our key guiding principles at Bloom Buddy is that the health and wellbeing of a child must be approached from a holistic angle and must begin with and be supported at the community level to ensure inclusivity in the society. This means that both the community and the child must be healthy to best support each other. So every one of us as a part of the community has a part to play in the wellness and development of children in our communities, and it starts with owning our personal wellness and wellbeing.”
Bloom Buddy is a complete ecosystem that connects parents and caregivers of children with autism to licensed specialists and board-certified interventionists. It has a full range of resources at: www.thebloombuddy.com
