By Akinwale Kasali
The Lagos State Government has set the State’s first Employee Wellness Centre, LASWELL, in other to have an effective and efficient workforce.
According to the State’s Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, “The Centre is structured to enhance the welfare of Lagos State Public Servants to function effectively, with the help of professionals, as well as ensure officers attain satisfactory standards of mental stability and emotional/psychological wellbeing.”
“The initiative is part of effort to promote comprehensive health system and ensure civil servants attain better mental health which underscores the high premium the present administration places on the wellbeing of its workforce in line with its THEMES Agenda, particularly at this present time when everyone is grappling with global health crisis of Covid-19 Pandemic.
“The idea to set up LASWELL came from me, having realized that in order to have a vibrant workforce, there was the need to address emotional, psychosocial and mild mental issues that might be confronting the employees,” he said.
Corroborating Muri-Okunola, the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Segun Dawodu stated that the setting up of LASWELL by the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was in accordance with the second pillar of the THEMES Agenda which is (Health and Environment).
“The timeliness of the setting of LASWELL would be well appreciated when viewed from the perspective of the ever increasing socioeconomic challenges being faced by Civil Servants as well as workplace related stresses and at challenges at the home front.
“It was observed that the rate of depression has assumed an alarming proportion in recent time, compelling individuals to resort to taking antidepressants, while others are becoming victims of suicidal tendencies. It is in order to rekindle hope in these individuals that LASWELL was brought to the door step of the employees.
“The fact that the rate of depression, hopelessness and lack of self-actualization has assumed unprecedented dimension in our society today is enough to invest in the system. As a responsible government, we cannot pretend to be uninterested in this. We are taking this step to nip the development in the bud,” he said.
