Lagos State government has inaugurated a 10-member ‘Art4Life steering committee to drive art as healing therapy in health facilities across the state.
Akin Abayomi, the state commissioner for health, while inaugurating the committee, in Ikeja, explained that it has the responsibility to push the Art4Life project.
The Art4Life is an initiative that uses art to create a soft and compassionate environment to aid the process of healing for patients in health facilities.
Abayomi said: “The Art4Life project marks a new dimension in how we manage healthcare and well being of our people. We are adding a softer touch to how we deliver quality health care to the people of Lagos by bringing arts to contribute to the healing process in our health facilities.”
According to him, the Art4Life project is in further fulfillment of the government’s promise to strengthen healthcare system in the state, noting that the introduction of art therapy will help improve mental health and wellbeing of citizens.
The initiative, he said, would introduce a softer method of looking beyond the physical in attending to patient’s health thereby reducing trauma, anxiety, emotional difficulties, and medical conditions amongst others.
“We need to pay great attention beyond the physical with a view to reducing mental trauma, emotional difficulties as well as depression, family or relationship issues through art therapy,” he said.
While explaining the benefits of art therapy, Abayomi stated that several art methods including visual, creative and performing arts such as drawing, painting, sculpture, music, dancing and collage amongst others may be used with patients ranging from young children to the elderly adding that people who have experienced emotional trauma, physical violence, domestic abuse, anxiety, depression, and other psychological issues can benefit from expressing themselves creatively.
He assured that the use of art therapy would be activated in all medical facilities across the state emphasizing that it has a magical way of impacting positively on a depressed patient especially when they see nature.
The commissioner added that the inclusion of art therapy will transform heath care service delivery in the state noting that his experience of how art was used to aid the process of healing and recovery of Ebola survivors in some West Africa countries is nothing short of magic.
He reassured of the government’s commitment to its one health agenda which, according to him, was apparent in the relationship between the different disciplines including arts and medicine.
Also inaugurated was a 3-man advisory mommittee for the Art4Life initiative headed by Abayomi Finnih with Yeni Kuti and Nelson Makamo as members. They are expected to act as patrons, playing advisory role to assist the steering committee.
JOSHUA BASSEY
