NUJ FCT partners Nizamiye hospital to offer free medical care for journalists

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the federal capital territory (FCT) has partnered with the Nizamiye hospital to organise free medical outreach for its members.

Grace Ike, chairperson of the FCT NUJ, sealed the partnership with the hospital when she led a delegation to the medical facility over the weekend.

Ike said the initiative is intended to provide free healthcare services to journalists in the FCT during the upcoming press week in June.

“We look forward to a stronger partnership beyond this medical outreach,” she said.

“This collaboration is just the beginning of a broader partnership beyond the medical outreach.”

Mohammed Abubakar, the deputy chief operating officer of Nizamiye, affirmed the support of the hospital for the press week.

“We welcome this kind of partnership. All we need is a formal letter outlining the outreach plan, and we will proceed together,” Abubakar said.

Abubakar asked journalists to spotlight the quality healthcare services available within the country to curb the rising trend of medical tourism.

He also highlighted the hospital’s successful outreach programmes, which he noted have provided care to Nigerians in states such as Nasarawa, Katsina, Bauchi, and Owerri.

“In Kefi, we treated about 2,500 patients over two days. In Katsina, around 2,250; in Bauchi, approximately 2,700; and in Owerri, about 1,700. Just last week, we attended to about 800 people, including those from neighbouring areas who rushed to the venue,” he said.

“We initially planned to see between 1,500 and 2,000 patients. We also left the remaining medications at the local facility for continued use.

“Our outreach covers multiple specialities, including cardiology, orthopaedics, paediatrics, gynaecology, ophthalmology, and dentistry.”

He said the outreach programmes are part of the hospital’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) to assist the underprivileged.

Abubakar commended the federal government for suspending tariffs on imported pharmaceuticals, noting that it would enhance access to essential medicines.