#GHB2016, LWI initiative, providing cutting edge solution to health matters

The LiveWell Initiative LWI Grand Health Bazaar #GHB2016 was a multisectoral, cross-cutting international annual healthcare exposition, plenary and health fair programme, which took place at Sheraton Four Points,Oniru Road, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Day 1 was Prosumerism Day themed ‘Prosumerism as a cutting edge solution in the transformation of the consumer value chain’. Day 2 was Technology Day, themed  ‘Internet and digital technologies as inclusive innovation tools for expanding the social ecosystem’  and the final day was Logistics Day themed ‘Transformational logistics as a catalyst for floating production, horizontal wells, cold chains, storage and risk-watching in emerging economies’

A ‘3-in-1’ event; was run on the heels of  very successful  previous GHB2015, GHB2014, GHB2013, GHB2012, GHB2011 which were all held also on Victoria Island & Lekki, Lagos.

#GHB2016 was held out of the need to further foster collaboration between the health sector and the organised private sector with a view to attaining a mutual synergy between these groups; to bring about improvement of general health and health literacy in our society and to enhance commerce, corporate networking and mutually synergistic collaborations.

The adjoining LWI Free Health Fair held concurrently throughout the #GHB2016 event. Free Health Screenings and free medicines were administered to attendees at the event. LWI free health checks included blood pressure screening, blood sugar , BMI, body composition screening, Hepatitis B and C screenings, HIV/AIDS voluntary counselling & screening, malaria test, prostate specific antigen test, breast screening among others. Most attendees at #GHB2016 availed themselves of the health screenings and free medicines and were truly amazed at the number of freebies they went home with.

The 35-man LWI team members gave full healthcare cover to all #GHB2016 participants. The LWI team was made up of medical doctors, pharmacists, nurses, public health officers, trained counsellors and skilled professionals, among whom were Masters Degree holders and LBS (Lagos Business School) Alumni Members of the LWI Team.

Cumulatively, at least 1500 participants attended the 3-day exposition; with a mixed attendance composed of Logistics professionals, Prosumerism & Technology professionals, healthcare professionals, bankers, students and various high-leveled professionals from all walks of life.

Notable dignitaries that attended included CEO, Jaykay Group Hon Jimi Agbaje, Former Hon. Permanent secretary of Health, Lagos Olufemi Olugbile, MD FCMB Microfinance Bank, Adetunji Lamidi to mention a few.

Charles Gore, the president of World Hepatitis Alliance who was unavoidably absent sent his congratulatory message to the convener, Bisi Bright, a Pharmacist, and 1st Vice Chairman / CEO, LiveWell Initiative (LWI), on developing a great program which afforded all who attend #GHB2016 the opportunity to learn about Liver Health. In his words “Nigeria with tremendously high hepatitis burden, there is great need to know more about hepatitis, the risks of contracting it is critical. The global population living with Hepatitis B or C simply don’t know so there is need to get tested and screened for this disease and after being tested, there is effective treatment for Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C”.

“The work place is a very good environment and opportunity to carry out the screening and also a very good place to carry out awareness. What we actually need is much more buying in from more companies to make sure people are aware of hepatitis to avoid contracting it and to get tested for it.” He concluded.

The cross-cutting, multisectoral nature of the event enabled companies the opportunity to build new collaborations and partnerships by seeking out clients in the non-traditional sectors, many corporates seized the opportunity to consolidate in the Nigerian market through a unique corporate exposition – business to business and direct-to-customer; commerce and networking, #GHB2016 also provided ample opportunity to mingle with other sectors of the economy at large, with great prospects of a mutually benefitting synergism  B2B, B2C, The was opportunity to obtain new ways of attaining positive educational outcomes and engaging with participants of schools and academic institutions, #GHB2016 participation has automatically conferred on partners and exhibitors, an enhanced Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability Profile in the eyes of the Public and finally, it was an ample opportunity to take a ‘peep’ into competition; this presented itself to all participants and exhibitors in similar industries and the beneficiaries were the clients who had to be ‘wooed’ by competition.

“GHB2016 was a carnival-like event with the presence of organizations from different sectors of the economy. It was attended by over 1500 participants from all sectors of the economy. The turnout of invited dignitaries and exhibitors was as high as 95%. Participants’ turnout also met a high expectation and the corporate sector representation was excellent. #GHB2016 was by all ratings and feedback, a very successful and impactful 3-in-1 event. It harboured two successful confabs; a Liver Health Confab and a Women’s Health Confab. We are excited about the feebacks and we are looking forward to 2017 already” said Bisi.

BEN EGUZOZIE