U&I Health Initiative, a Non-Governmental Organization in Kogi State, North-central Nigeria, has organised a medical outreach for the underprivileged in Bassa Local Government Area of Kogi State.
During the outreach, nearly five hundred persons with different ailments were given free medical examinations and drugs, worth millions of naira.
The executive director of the civil society organization, Mr. Suleiman Abubakar, said that the medical outreach is part of the free healthcare provision to disadvantaged communities by the voluntary health provider, aimed at reducing the burden of primary healthcare on the state government.
Suleiman, says U&I is committed to providing free medical examination and treatments for the rural poor to support disadvantaged communities attain healthful environmental influences such as free regular health education, medical examination and treatment of indigent citizens towards healthcare improvement of the poor to reduce poverty.
According to him, the health organization has undertaken the medical outreach in three health facilities in Bassa Local Government Area, where the U&I medical team of 10 medical specialists and consultants from the National Hospital, Abuja, attended to the beneficiaries with various health conditions.
Mr. Abubakar added that the programme was organized in support of the campaign programme of the APC Governorship candidate in the state, Ahmed Usman Ododo in the November 11 Governorship election.
“Alhaji Ahmed Ododo has demonstrated keen interest in providing medical facilities and free medication to some rural communities across the state. And in line with Ododo’s spirit of philanthropy, our programme is designed to encourage him to adopt his philanthropic policy on health in the governance of the state to shape the policy direction of his administration when elected as Kogi State Governor come November 11,” he said.
Abubakar stated that the NGO is determined to support the candidacy of Ododo in the provision of educational materials, agricultural services, sports, youth and women empowerment in the rural areas. Also, Bassa LGA was chosen for the flag off of the exercise, as the most rural and disadvantaged rural community in the state.
Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to Governor Yahaya Bello, on Primary Health Care Services, Alhassan Salisu Adakeke, stressed that Usman Ododo is ‘evidently’ disposed to the service of communities in the state.
Adakeke says Governor Bello’s administration has provided Health facilities and medical equipment to the 239 political wards in the rural areas in accordance with the standard of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Chairman of Bassa Local Government Area, Mutari Shaibu and the traditional leader of Bassa Area Traditional Council, the Aguma of Bassa -komo and the Chairman Bassa aArea Traditional Council, Mr Williams keke, were full of appreciation for the medical outreach. They all separately endorsed Usman Ododo as the candidate of APC.
