From Abel Leonard, Lafia
A group under the aegis of Lafia Old Students Association, has begun a free medical outreach for no fewer than 5,000 residents of Karu Local Government Area in Nasarawa state.
According to the group, the gesture was aimed at complementing the efforts of the State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, in providing good healthcare for the less-privileged in the state, and also to show thier support for his 2023 re-election bid.
President of LOSA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, who made the disclosure at the inauguration of the exercise in Karu on Wednesday, explained that the medical outreach would be sustained across the 13 LGAs of the state throughout the tenure of the governor.
Dr. Shuaib who is also the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, added that the outreach was also aimed at improving the living conditions of the people of the state.
“Health is wealth and the absence of good health can expose the people to poverty and even death, hence the need for all hands to be on deck to ensure a healthy society.
“The state government under Governor Abdullahi Sule has done a lot to improve the heath of the people and make healthcare services accessible to them.
“The state has also performed credibly well in the COVID-19 vaccination exercise which has earned it an award. So, it is only right to support the government in its effort to improve the health of the people,” he added.
While calling on residents of the state to re-elect the Governor in 2023 for more dividends of democracy, the LOSA president said the medical team would carryout surgeries, tests, counselling and administer drugs to patients free of charge.
In his remark, Governor Abdullahi Sule expressed gratitude to Dr. Shuaib for the free medical outreach, and for supporting his re-election bid.
Sule described the LOSA president as a worthy ambassador of Nasarawa state and wished him continued success in his national assignment.
“The people of Karu LGA have requested that we should build more Primary Healthcare Centres for them because the existing ones are overstretched, and because I understand the importance of good healthcare, I will collaborate with Dr. Faisal Shuaib to build more centres for them.
“I want to use this opportunity to assure all residents of the state that I will do more than I have done in my first tenure if I am re-elected as Governor in 2023,” Sule added.
One of the beneficiaries who spoke on behalf of the others, Ibrahim Ahmed, thanked Governor Sule and Dr. Shuaib for the free medical outreach, and wished them well in their endeavors.