By Bashir Rabe Mani
Kware – The wife of the President, Mrs. A’isha Buhari, on Monday flagged off a special medical outreach programme in Sokoto, with a promise to reach “ at least 3,000 women and children”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mrs. Buhari, was represented by the wife of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Mrs. Gimbiya Dogara.
NAN also reports that the outreach programme was organized under her pet project – Future-Assured Programme, in partnership with the pet programme of the Wife of Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, the Maryam Tambuwal Legacy Initiative.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mrs. Buhari said that the gesture was part of activities to mark the tenth anniversary of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, on the throne.
She said that the gesture was also part of her unwavering commitment to the health of Nigerian women, children and other vulnerable groups.
” The children are the future of Nigeria and we have to secure this future by taking good care of them.
”If we do no provide them with efficient healthcare services and other needs now, the future of Nigeria will be in great jeopardy,” she said.
Mrs. Buhari urged wives of State Governors to initiate steps toward caring for women, children and other vulnerable groups to give them a sense of belonging.
In her speech, Mrs. Tambuwal described the wife of the President as a ”dexterous mother of the nation,” and commended her sustained support to
Nigerian women and children.
The Sokoto State Health Commissioner, Dr. Balarabe Kakale, in her remarks, said that the outreach had a lot of medical packages that included de-worming of pupils, provision of vitamin A supplements and anti-malarial drugs.
Other benefits included free medical tests, consultations and drugs, among others.
The Chairman of Kware Local Government, Alhaji Abubakar Zamau, in a brief speech, commended Mrs. Buhari for the gesture which he said would complement efforts of the state government and the 23 Local Governments toward quality healthcare delivery.