ABUJA – The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Friday urged Christians and Muslims in Nigeria to co-exist peacefully in order to collectively fight against vices threatening the unity of the country.
National President of the association, Dr Kayode Obembe, made the call when he led an NMA delegation on a visit to the Executive Secretary of the Central Mosque, Abuja, Alhaji Ibrahim Jega.
Obembe, who was represented by the National Treasurer of the association, Dr Abubakar Abdulrahman, said that the visit was part of the activities of NMA’s annual Physicians’ Week.
He described Friday prayers as special in which peace was preached, and urged Muslims to always utilize the lessons of the day “to live in one accord with fellow Nigerians.”
He said that the unity adopted by Nigerians to stamp out Ebola should also be adopted to fight other vices bedeviling the nation.
He added that the same zeal should be applied in seeking the face of God in the daily lives of Nigerians, saying “with God, we shall conquer.”
“Our message is that we should live in peace and harmony with one another. The country is ours and Nigerian doctors are always ready to give their support to ensure the safety of lives of citizens.
“Nigeria is being celebrated today over Ebola-free status because of unity exhibited by the citizens; so, we also appeal that such unity should continue in the fight against other vices.
“With such unity, we shall stamp out other vices working against the nation,’’ he said.
Receiving the delegation, Jega assured NMA of Muslim community’s support at ensuring that Ebola was gone forever in the country.
He said that personal hygiene was a pride to the Islamic community, adding that members always washed their hands and observe other healthy measures.
According to Jega, regular washing of hands and other parts of the body is the culture of the Muslim and it is aimed at ensuring a healthy environment.
He urged other Nigerians to emulate such practices to ensure a sanitized and healthy environment.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highpoint of the visit was the donation of First Aids kit and Automatic Sanitisers to the Mosque authorities by the NMA.
Presenting the items, NMA Chairman in the Federal Capital Territory, Dr Fatima Mairami, said that the donation was part of the association’s effort at providing preventive measures against Ebola and other diseases.
At the Jumaat service held during the visit, the Chief Imam of the Central Mosque, Sheik Musa Mohammed, urged Muslims to take issue of health seriously.
Mohammed said that declaring the nation Ebola-free was not a yardstick for Nigerians to relent in efforts at combating the virus and other infectious diseases. (NAN)
