By; SANI ALIYU, Zaria
The Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) Zaria chapter of Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN) has began to offer free medical and surgery outreach to about 10,000 people in Zazzau emirate.
Prof. Abdullahi Abba, the Ameer of the association disclosed this at the 2022 medical outreach flag off held at Emir’s Palace in Zaria on Saturday.
He said of the 10,000 beneficiaries, 500 would receive free surgeries, 25 cataract surgeries and 25 dental surgeries during the programme.
The Ameer added that dental and cataract surgeries would be delivered at Gambo Sawaba General Hospital Zaria while other surgeries would be done at Muslims Specialist Hospital, Dan-Magaji Zaria.
According to him, a team of medical consultants from both Ahmadu Bello University and Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital would attend to patients and offer free drugs to the patient during the programme.
In her message, Kaduna State Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Amina Baloni commended the association for the gesture adding that the initiative was in line with the yearnings and aspirations of Kaduna state government.
Represented by the Hajiya Aisha Tukur, Executive Secretary Health Supplies Management Agency appealed to the philanthropists in the emirate to key into the key components of states’ health insurance scheme.
She added that the scheme was aimed at ensuring that vulnerable groups access quality health care services with little money.
She said the state government soon commenced its plan to deliver drugs to hard to reach areas with drones.
In his remarks, Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli commended the state government and IMAN for their interventions towards strengthening health services in the emirate.
Bamalli urges the state government to liaise with traditional institutions before it commences the delivery of drugs to hard to reach areas via drones.
“We are in difficult times due to the security challenges in some parts of the emirate, seeing drones delivering such consignment in areas where they were not used such things would cause tension to our people.
“We want avoid what happened during one of the Sallah celebrations where somebody was using drone to cover Sallah procession but he was misunderstood to be terrorist and person was nearly lynched before the intervention of the security.
“Commissioner please note this, we need enlighten our people on this initiative before you commence the delivery of drugs via the drone,’’ the emir said.
