NMA Partners Rotary Club On Free Medical Outreach For Inmates

By Daniel Karlmax 

Nigeria Medical Association, NMA in Kaduna says it is ready to collaborate with any organization in the area of healthcare service delivery to improve the well-being of citizens.

The Chairman of NMA in Kaduna, Dr. Bala Danjuma stated this during a free medical outreach of the Association and the Kaduna Rotary Club for inmates at the Medium Security Custodial Centre,  Kaduna. 

Represented by Dr. Usman Dansani, the NMA Chairman who emphasized the importance of collaboration, said it is key to achieving effective healthcare, and out of pocket services especially for low income earners and unreached citizens in the country.

He said the outreach provided a platform for them to interact with the inmates to enable them have a sense of belonging, and remain hopeful in the condition they have found themselves.

Dr. Bala highlighted that, the program also focuses on the prevention of some diseases through enlightenment, early screening, and quick diagnosis as well as free treatments for inmates with a view to improving their socio-economic wellbeing.

The NMA Chairman encouraged other spirited individuals, non governmental organizations, and corporate bodies to embrace the voluntary humanitarian initiatives toward helping in preventing diseases outbreak, and providing treatments for people considering the harsh economic situation facing the country.

In her address, President of Kaduna Rotary Club, Rotarian Portia Stephenie Aji, who is also the Superintendent of Correction, pointed out that the exercise was part of effort to mark its sixty years of service to humanity in Kaduna State.

According to her, disease prevention and treatment is one of the focal points of Rotary International among other thematic areas such as maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, water hygiene and sanitation, environmental protection as well as peace building and conflict prevention among others.

She said under her stewardwardship , series of projects have been executed including planting of one thousand trees in Kaduna State University and Rimi college.

                                    "Donation of baby care items and mama kits to over two hundred pregnant and women and nursing mothers at Gambo Sawaba Hospital Zaria City"

                                   "Donation of one hundred and twenty desks, dictionaries, note books and other learning materials to demonstration primary school, kakuri Hausa in Kaduna State"

                                  "And today we are here, I did this because I owe it as a duty to equally extend the humanitarian service under my watch to my constituency which is the Nigerian Correctional service", she added.

Flagging off the exercise, District Governor of District 9127, Mr. Mike Ukachi Nwanoshiri, represented Mr. Haruna Usman appealed that to the management of the facility to avail to Rotary Club of Kaduna ten inmates with light sentences to facilitate their release.

He said it is part of the club's corporate social responsibility, to serve as a Christmas gift to those inmates as it will go a long way in decongestion of correctional facilities.

High point of the medical outreach was the administration of drugs for different ailments, screening, testing and treatment of health conditions ranging from tuberculosis, hepatitis, malaria,  typhoid, HIV counseling among others.

Various partners who contributed to the successful execution of the mandate included Kaduna State Aid Control Agency, KADSACA, a micro finance bank, Women Connect Initiative, professional medical practitioners among others.

Daniel Karlmax