An Integrated Medical Outreach program, in Karshi to be conducted across all the 62 political wards in the Territory, has been flagged off by FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu
Powered by Nigerians Unite for Tinubu/Shettima Mandate, the free medical outreach is targeted at the vulnerables in hard to reach communities.Special Aadviser on Media to FCT Minister of State, Austine Elemue in a statement on Sunday quoted the minister to have explained that the launch has been one of the priorities of the FCT Administration to provide to the residents, particularly women and children in most need, good quality, high impact Primary Health Care (PHC) services including immunization and nutrition services.She stressed that the routine immunization coverage and PHC services uptake across the area councils have been sub-optimal, partly due to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic that has further weaken the health system.
According to her, “Access to basic healthcare services has been poor due to the presence of hard to reach communities, couple with the rising cases of insecurity, and sub-optimal performance of the public health system.
“In this line, the flag off of the medical outreach programme for the integration of PHC service delivery and Immunization in a mobile/outreach strategy is expected to, among others, strengthen immunization and PHC service outputs through integration, particularly in the underserved, low performing wards of the FCT”.
She, however, affirmed that the medical outreach would serve as an avenue for the FCTA to provide most needed interventions to community members, including health education and promotion; treatment of common illnesses; vaccination of under-five children and pregnant women; distribution of Long Lasting Treated Nets and family planning commodities; screening for non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, routine eye screening and screening for malnutrition; linkages/referral services; amongst others.
Aliyu assured that the FCT Administration would continue to support all programmes and activities geared towards improving the quality of lives and health outcomes of all residents of the Territory particularly women and children.
She said, “Our relevant Secretariats, Departments and Agencies have been re-positioned and given necessary supports to perform for results.
“Working with Development Partners, access would be sustained to the underserved communities with optimal services uptake and utilization through the activities of community managerial system for Primary Health care in FCT.”
The minister appealed to royal fathers, religious and traditional leaders, stakeholders and other well-meaning Nigerians in the FCT, to continue to support the Administration to provide better services.
In his remarks, the Acting Executive Secretary of FCT Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Isah Yahaya Vatsa, commended the group, Nigerians Unite for Tinubu/Shettima Mandate, for the purposeful partnership with the Administration in providing quality healthcare services to the vulnerables in rural communities.
He revealed that the Free Medical Outreach will cover immunization, consultation by medical personnel in three points, and laboratory screening for diabetes and malaria.
Other services include pharmaceutical services (drugs), eye screening with free glasses for those that need them, blood pressure screening, weight and temperature check.
Goodwill messages were delivered by HRH Alhj. Ismail Dalandi Mohammed, Sarkin Karshi, Director General, Nigerians Unite for Tinubu/Shettima Mandate, Prof. Abdullahi Mohammed, amongst others