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… .records over 1,000 beneficiaries
By Stanley Onyekwere
No fewer than one thousand residents have benefited from the Renewed Hope Free Medical Outreach, during its first outing in Kuje Area Council, of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The jubilant beneficiaries mainly women, children and elderly men received varying healthcare services, ranging from eye screening and glasses, sickle cell screening, ante-natal clinic, blood testing, general medical chech up, minor surgeries, dental care, free HIV screening and Counselling to nutrition and food demonstration.
Flagging off the medical outreach at the Science Pilot Primary School, behind Gomo of Kuje’s palace, FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud noted that President Bola Tinubu’s government was working to improve health indices and other aspects of human development in FCT and across the country.
This, Mahmoud, who represented at the event by the Mandate Secretary, FCTA Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, explained was the reason behind the Renewed Hope Free Medical Outreach, rolled out to mark the President’s one year anniversary.
She disclosed that various specialist medical personnel were selected to bring the services to the rural people, in accordance with the renewed hope agenda.
She added that the special health care services would not end at the outreach venues, but extended to all the healthcare facilities across the Abuja’s rural area.
According to her, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, who has been widely applauded for his achievement in infrastructural development, was also working to improve other areas of residents’ lives.
“Here today, we have six different departments, antenatal care for pregnant women, general out patients care, paediatrics, eye and dental cares.
“We also have health insurance that will guarantee that even after today, you will continue to have access to health.
“ The plan of this government is to renew hope. We have over 1000 people here, and we have assured them that our doctors and services are very fast. Nobody will leave here unattended to.
“ And not just today, because this government is leaving no one behind. We don’t care about your party affiliation, age or sex or even religion. It is renewed hope for all.
“ The government of President Tinubu is working to ensure that our health indices improve. It is not acceptable to us anymore for a woman to die because of pregnancy or labour complications.
“ It is not acceptable to bus for a child to die. We have food and nutrition section. Not only are we checking, we are demonstrating and giving protein energy packs for both children and adults.
“We have HIV/ Aids care. It doesn’t stop there, we also have a follow up care”, she stressed.
Earlier in remark, the Permanent Secretary, FCTA’s Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Babagana Adam assured the residents that the quality healthcare services would be sustained.
Adam also noted that FCTA will continue to work with other relevant stakeholders to reach other more people with the services.
On his part, the representative of the Chairman, Kuje Area Council, Abdullahi Sabo, reassured the FCT Minister and the Minister of state that the good people of Kuje Area Council are happy with their developmental projects across the FCT.
Sabo said: “The choice of Kuje for the take off of the initiative is apt, as it affords the people opportunity to treat their illnesses at no cost. We are indeed very grateful.
“We will continue to support you by complementing your effort at our level. We shall also continue to remain the agents of renewed hope agenda of Mr. President.”
Also speaking, the Gomo of Kuje, Alhaji Haruna Jibrin, described the initiative as the physical demonstration of the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to the Kuje paramount traditional ruler, “Today, we are witnessing the flag off of this laudable project, and I can see the beneficiaries from a distance are wearing smiling faces.
“And this is first of its kind in Kuje Area Council, and we thank God for that. The whole place is really littered with people. This is a physical demonstration of renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
One of the beneficiaries, Sarah Zakka, said in addition to the free healthcare services, she and some others received cooking gas cylinders as gifts, to help support the nutritional health of their families.
“I had a medical check-up and was given drugs. I really appreciate what the government is doing for them in Kuje, and other parts of FCT.
Peoples Daily reports that the Kuje outing, which would be the first of many, would be extended to communities based needs in other places, as it’s designed to cover the six FCT Area Councils.
Also, FCTA supported by Smart Gas, a private firm distributed a total of 500 units of small (6kg) cooking gas cylinders to the same number of beneficiaries’ households, to promote clean air and healthy cooking in the Council.
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