Over 100 journalists enjoy free medical service in Kaduna

No fewer than 100 journalists on Saturday enjoyed free medical services provided by the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) North-West zone conjunction with Woman Hood Foundation, an NGO.

The journalists from various media Houses in Kaduna benefitted from diagnosis conducted which included free HIV and AIDS test, dental care, blood pressure, malaria, typhoid and counselling.

The exercise, which took place at the premises of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat in Kaduna, also saw the group distribute treated mosquito nets to journalists for free.

Chairperson of Women Hood Foundation, Hajiya Maryam, said the idea was to touch the lives of the journalists considering their immense contributions and importance to the society.

“When you touch the lives of journalists, you touch the life of the nation; journalists are the eyes, ears and mouth of the society,’’ she said.

Also speaking, the North-West coordinator of PPFN, Alhaji Ibrahim Kabiru, said the idea was initiated to ensure journalists were physically and mentally fit to discharge their duties.

“Journalists are partners in progress and we are happy with the turnout and their cooperation recorded in the exercise,’’ Kabiru said.

Garba Muhammad, NUJ Chairman, Kaduna Council, who commended the groups for the exercise, expressed delight over the gesture.

Garba appealed to other medical practitioners in the state to emulate the two groups so as to assist in diagnosing more journalists.

Some of the beneficiaries of the excise interviewed, Ibrahima Yakubu of Radio Germany said journalist must be healthy to perform their duties.

Another beneficiary Musa Awwal of Leadership Newspaper commended the two groups for the gesture, noting that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation.