FREE MEDICAL SERVICES, AN IMPORTANT DEMOCRACY GAIN……. Says Dr. Mrs. Eunice Ortom

Wife of the Governor of Benue State, Dr. Eunice Ortom has described the free medical services provided in the state by FUTURE ASSURED, the NGO of the wife of the president Federal Republic of Nigeria Mrs. Aisha Buhari as an important democracy gain.

Dr. Mrs. Ortom stated this in a speech she delivered recently at the free medical outreach of FUTURE ASSURED, held at Government Girls College Makurdi

She lauded the relevance and timeliness of the programme to assuage the plight of the masses imposed by the current recession in the country thus intensifying people’s expectation on government intervention.

“Altogether, thousands of our people have received medical attention that will go a long way to improve their health status to live healthier and happier lives and be more economically productive. We are happy that our people especially women have benefitted from the Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar checks, De-worming of Children, Cervical Screening, Breast Examination and Family Planning”, she stated.

While stressing that health is wealth, the wife of the Governor who is also the founder of Eunice Spring of Life (ELSF) said the present administration in the State and the federal is leaving no Stone unturned to guarantee good life for the people.

“That is why my NGO, the Eunice Spring of Life Foundation ESLF has been working hard in the area of cancer awareness creation and HIV sensitization exercise which has been carried out in phases for mothers and children, she asserted, adding that” ESLF is in the process of establishing a cancer centre to make more concrete contribution in fighting cancer in the State and beyond.

In her speech, the wife of the president Mrs. Aisha Buhari represented by Hajiya Hannatu Zanna, North central coordinator FUTURE ASSURED, lauded the support of Dr. Ortom to Benue women, and also appreciated Governor Samuel Ortom for the attention he has so far given to the development of the health sector in the State.

While expressing optimism that the outreach will contribute to the reduction of maternal and child mortality in the State, Mrs. Buhari however gave assurance that the ugly trend can be tamed if women are proactive in issues concerning their health and that of their children.

“Let me note that the problem of infant, child and maternal mortality which has been on the front burner of development discourse can be drastically reduced if women begin to pay more attention to their health and their children”, she emphasized.

She stated that her pet project, FUTURE ASSURED has covered 9 States and the FCT, pointing out that the outreach is to encourage women and children to imbibe the culture of regular checks for the longevity of their lives.

Mrs. Buhari pledged to continue to advocate to relevant stakeholders to act in order to reduce child and maternal mortality.

In a remark, Governor Samuel Ortom praised the gesture of Mrs. Buhari saying it has complemented the healthcare efforts of the State Government.

Governor Ortom noted that he has passion for improved health outcomes in the State resulting in his payment of dues for the full accreditation of the College of Health Sciences of the Benue State University a development which led to the graduation of 152 medical students whose graduation had stagnated for many years.

He also announced that his administration had secured full accreditation of the Schools of Nursing and Midwifery Makurdi, and that of School of Health Technology Agasha, as well as renovated several Primary Health Centres across the State.

Lucy Ackanyon is a reporter with THE VOICE newspaper covering the activities of the wife of the Governor of Benue State.