National Arts in Health Week Nigeria

Following National Arts & Health Week Nigeria in 2022, Jameel Arts & Health Lab collaborated with the WHO and the Open Mind Project to organize the event held in Lagos for 2023. The sessions across the week explored many key aspects regarding arts within healthcare and included a variety of performances from celebrated Nigerian musicians, dancers and more. This collaborative effort comes as part of the global Healing Arts campaign.

Watch a short summary here:

08 May | Art in Health Engagement & Social Prescribing

On the first day of NAHWN, the focus was largely on arts in health engagement and social prescribing, with talks from Dr. Bodgan Chiva Giurca, Dr. Fakunle David, Imal Silvia and more. Kunle Adewale, member of the steering committee for the WHO - Jameel Arts and Health Lab, hosted the official launch for the Social Prescribing Network Nigeria and Veronica Gould Franklin closed the session explaining the importance of arts for the health of the brain.

Watch the entire first day here:

09 May | Art in Mental Health Spaces in Nigeria: WHO Connect

The JAHL team paid a visit to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Center in Oshodi and the Federal Neuro-psychiatric Hospital, Yaba on day 2 to participate in a Music for Mental Health engagement featuring live musicians and a movement therapy session facilitated by Dr. Nisha Sajnani. 

Watch a performance by Sinmidele Ayodeji here:

10 May | Arts in Paediatric and Public Health: WHO Connect

The activities on Wednesday included visits to the National Sickle Cell Centre, the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit and the Paediatric Oncology Ward in the Lagos University Teaching Hospital as well as a healing arts workshop in the Psychiatric Ward of the Lagos State Teaching Hospital hosted by Nengi Omuku.

11 May | Strengthening Multi-sector Partnerships for Art, Health and Wellbeing in Nigeria

The 4th day consisted primarily of a conference with Belinda Holden as the keynote speaker, containing many smaller talks surrounding strengthening multi-sector partnerships for art, health and wellbeing in Nigeria. The talks were accompanied by performances throughout the day, and concluded with a dance performance from the Deaf Can Dance Crew. From this day until the end of the week, the Children’s Art Gallery Exhibition was opened as part of the campaign.

Watch day 4 here:

12 May | Art in Health and Community Art Sessions Across Nigeria

On Friday, an onsite engagement with the elderly at the Yaba Home for the Elderly took place concerning arts and brain health, followed by an event on art in health in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

13 May | Art & Inclusion: Autism & Sickle Cell

On a less busy day with emphasis on autism and sickle cell, a movement snd mental health event was followed by a film screening later in the evening.

14 May | Global Arts in Medicine Fellowship Closing

The Global Arts in Medicine Fellowship brought the National Arts and Health Week to a close.