POWA, Nurses’ Association Partner to Boost Healthcare for Police Families in Lagos

POWA, Nurses’ Association Partner to Boost Healthcare for Police Families in Lagos

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) has strengthened its collaboration with the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) as preparations intensify for a major healthcare and welfare outreach targeting police families in Lagos State.

The renewed partnership was reinforced during a meeting at the POWA National Secretariat in Abuja, where the association’s president, Olufunmilola Disu, received a delegation led by NANNM President, Haruna Mamman.

The engagement focused on expanding cooperation to deliver improved medical services and social support to police communities nationwide, with particular attention on the next phase of the POWA Cares Initiative scheduled for Lagos.

The initiative, a nationwide intervention programme, is designed to improve health outcomes, economic stability and general well-being among families of serving police officers. Organisers said the Lagos outreach builds on the success of its earlier phase in Abuja, where over 1,000 beneficiaries accessed free eye screenings, treatment and general medical services.

Speaking at the meeting, Disu emphasised that lasting impact in welfare programmes depends on deliberate partnerships with professional bodies, especially within the healthcare sector.

She noted that the Abuja exercise demonstrated the urgent need for structured, large-scale interventions tailored to the realities of police families, adding that the Lagos phase would adopt a broader approach combining healthcare delivery with economic empowerment.

According to her, a key feature of the upcoming outreach is an education support scheme that will award scholarships to ten children of police officers to study nursing, a move aimed at promoting access to education while strengthening the healthcare workforce.

Describing the collaboration as critical, she highlighted the role of nurses in frontline service delivery and community health, noting that the partnership reflects shared values of service and care.

Disu also linked the welfare of police families to the overall effectiveness of personnel, stressing that initiatives like POWA Cares address a crucial but often overlooked aspect of national security.

In his remarks, Mamman reaffirmed the commitment of the nursing association to the programme, saying it aligns with its mandate to promote accessible and quality healthcare across the country.

He assured that the association would mobilise its members and expertise to ensure the success of the Lagos outreach.

Both organisations also raised concerns over the growing presence of unlicensed medical practitioners, warning of the risks posed to public health. They agreed to strengthen collaboration in advocacy, regulation and public awareness to tackle the challenge.

The Lagos programme, expected to hold later this month, will bring together healthcare professionals, development partners and community leaders to deliver integrated services, including medical care, health education and socio-economic support for police families.