A group, Progressive Indigenes of Confluence State, has undertaken 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 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 the medical outreach in three health facilities in Bassa local government area, where the U&I team of 10 medical specialists and consultants from the National Hospital, Abuja, attended the beneficiaries with various health conditions.
Mr. Abubakar said the programme was organized in support of the campaign programme of the APC candidate in the November governorship election in Kogi state, Ahmed Usman Ododo.
“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 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,” he said.
Abubakar said the NGO is determined to support the candidacy of Ododo in the provision of Educational materials, Agricultural services, sports, youth and women empowerment at 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 said Governor Yahaya 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).
Adakeke said Governor Bello has released fund for the construction of Oguma -Sheria bridge, adding that construction work on the bridge project has commenced with encouraging speed. He said the encouraging concerns and attention given to the area, will earn massive votes for the APC and its candidate, Usman Ododo.
Hon. Adakeke said the peace initiative of Governor has brought peace to the area.
Chairman of Bassa local government area, Mutari Shaibu, said 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 Bassa area traditional council, the Aguma of Bassa -komo and the chairman Bassa area traditional council, Mr Williams Keke, revealed that they have endorsed Usman Ododo as the candidate of APC.
The traditional leader said a sustained peace and speedy return of the displaced people hinder development of the area.
