By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The Gwaram Local Government Council in Jigawa State has provided free medical treatment to over 5,000 individuals suffering from mental illness, eye conditions, and other ailments through three rounds of medical outreach programs. These initiatives, conducted across the council’s 11 political wards, took place within the first 100 days of the council’s administration.
Council chairman and Jigawa State ALGON (Association of Local Government of Nigeria) Chairman, Professor Salim Abdurraman, disclosed this in an interview with National Update. He noted that the council’s interventions targeted rising cases of mental illness linked to the harmattan season. Over 350 individuals with psychiatric conditions received free treatment and follow-up medications.
“We called on families with mentally ill patients to report to their respective councilors, and we registered 350 patients across the area,” Abdurraman stated. He added that the council engaged psychiatric specialists who were stationed in Dingaya town to treat the patients. Those requiring further attention were referred to psychiatric hospitals.
The chairman further highlighted that the medical outreach program addressed common health challenges and cost the council over N30 million. The interventions also included extensive eye care services, benefitting over 5,000 individuals.
“In October, shortly after assuming office, we treated over 2,000 patients with eye conditions during the first medical outreach, which included minor surgeries. This exercise restored sight to many and cost over N10 million,” he revealed.
The second round, costing N9.7 million, provided treatment for over 750 patients, including surgeries for 196 individuals. During the third exercise, held in Fagam and Tsangarwa towns, 1,229 patients received eye care, 210 received corrective glasses, and each patient was given N5,000 for transportation.
Professor Abdurraman expressed gratitude to Governor Malam Umar Namadi for supporting local government autonomy and ensuring non-interference in their administration and finances, which enabled the council to execute these impactful programs.