The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), on Saturday, in partnership with the Nizamiye Hospital, provided free medical services for over 300 journalists in Abuja.
The novel medical outreach, which took place at the NUJ FCT Secretariat in Utako, provided services relating to heart health, bones and joints, eyes, and dental care, with the majority of journalists tested having high blood pressure and high sugar level prevalence
This is just as the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, praised both the NUJ in the FCT and Nizamiye Hospital for the thoughtful move to care for journalists’ health.
Representing by the Director of Medical Services, Commodore Momoh Salihu, the defence chief said that “it is actually a laudable event and I want to say kudos to the NUJ Council in the FCT and the Nizamiye Hospital for organising and conducting this medical outreach for journalists.
“This effort will improve the well-being and productivity of journalists in Abuja and help them stay focused on their job,” he said.
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The NUJ FCT Council Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike, thanked the Nizamiye Hospital for bringing their team of specialists, including a general surgeon, internals, cardiologist, nephrologist, ophthalmologist and general practitioners to provide the free medical services.
She stressed how important it is to look after journalists’ health, saying, “we will always make sure our members are healthy. They go out to the field every time and most times they barely have time to check on themselves.”
The medical outreach is part of a wider plan to raise health awareness and give free medical support to journalists.
Comrade Ike also said the results of the medical outreach would help guide the council’s efforts to get health insurance for members.
“We will always make sure our members are healthy. They go out to the field every time and most times they barely have time to go for medical check ups.
“The NUJ FCT Council decided to take it as a point of duty to make sure that we have our bodies checked.
“It is our desire to make sure that we get health insurance for our members. The outcome of today’s outreach will better guide us.
“I am happy that members turned out en masse for this outreach. For me, I am happy that the team of medical doctors from Nizamiye Hospital are here to check our members.
“This will not be the last. We will continue to do this. Thank you to Nizamiye Hospital for taking up this challenge,” Ms. Ike said.
She promised this wouldn’t be the last time, saying the union remains committed to looking after its members.
“This initiative demonstrates the union’s commitment to supporting journalists’ well-being,” she added.
Mohammed Abubakar, the hospital’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer, earlier confirmed the hospital’s support for the event and other similar health programmes in the FCT.
“Our aim was to conduct medical screening for journalists in the FCT. The aim of the medical outreach is to prevent diseases. We are known to give humanitarian aids and this for us is a partnership with the NUJ FCT
“The major disease that is prevalent so far is high blood pressure and sugar level and for eye issues we will go back to the hospital and revert to members who have serious medical eye issues for surgery where necessary,” he added
Speaking during the exercise, Deputy Medical Director of Nizamiye Hospital, Dr. Nurullo Sadokov, stated that the medical outreach was part of the hospital’s corporate social responsibility.
He said, “I hope this screening will help journalists to identify and prevent diseases and sicknesses.
“From what we have seen so far, there are journalists with blood pressure and blood sugar problems. Our surgeon here has identified some journalists with hernia and haemorrhage.
“We are making plans for those patients to come to our hospital for proper treatment and management. We came here for a general screening.
“They may have a problem or not. After identifying the problems and diseases, we will then take another step, which is at the hospital level.
“Some patients may end at the diagnostic level while others may need further attention. At the end of the day, we will make a list and make recommendations to the NUJ.”
