By Ishaq Dan-Imam, Lokoja
A group in Kogi State, north-central Nigeria, Progressive Indigenes of Confluence State, has undertaken a medical outreach for the underprivileged in the 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 in the course of the medical outreach.
The executive director of the civil society organization, Mr. Suleiman Abubakar, says the medical outreach is part of the free healthcare provision to disadvantaged Communities by the voluntary health provider, which aims 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 medical outreach in three health facilities in the Bassa local government area, where the U&I medical team of 10 medical specialists and consultants from the National Hospital, Abuja, attended the beneficiaries with various health conditions.
Mr. Abubakar says the program was organized in support of the campaign program of the APC Governorship candidate in the state, Ahmed Usman Ododo in the November 11 Governorship election.
“Alhaji Ahmed Ododo has demonstrated a 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 program 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.”
Abubakar says 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.
According to Mr. Abubakar, Bassa LGA was chosen for the Flag off of the exercise, “as the most rural and disadvantaged rural Community in the state by our research team.”
Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to Governor Yahaya Bello, on Primary Healthcare 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 by the standard of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Adakeke says Governor Bello has released funds for the construction of the Oguma -Sheria Bridge.
He says construction work on the bridge project has commenced with encouraging speed. He said the encouraging concerns and attention given to the area, will mean massive votes for the APC and its candidate, Usman Ododo.
Hon. Adakeke said the peace initiative of the Governor has brought peace to the area.
Chairman of Bassa local government area, Mutari Shaibu, says the project is commendable to the local government area as a support scheme for the good development initiative job of Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello and our candidate Alh Usman Ododo.
The traditional leader of the Bassa area traditional council, the Aguma of Bassa -komo and the chairman Bassa area traditional council, Mr. William Keke, revealed that endorsed Usman Ododo as the candidate for APC.
The traditional leader says a sustained peace and speedy return of the displaced people hinder the development of the area.
