Ado Salisu
No fewer than 2,000 patients in Gwarzo Local Government Area of Kano State have benefited from a free medical outreach organised by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) as part of activities marking its 66th Annual General Conference and Delegates Meeting.
The outreach, held at Gwarzo General Hospital, saw the participation of over 250 medical doctors who provided a wide range of healthcare services, including consultations, minor surgical procedures, distribution of free drugs, and provision of eyeglasses to patients drawn from within and outside the area.
Speaking at the event, the NMA President, Bala Audu,represented by the 2nd Vice President, Usha Anenga, said the initiative was part of the association’s commitment to community service.
He noted that the outreach also served as a tribute to the late Stella Adadevoh, who sacrificed her life during the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Nigeria.
According to him, the conference, themed “Bridging Research, Policy and Practice: Strengthening Nigeria’s Health System for Resilience and Equity,” aims to address critical challenges facing the nation’s healthcare system.
He added that the event is expected to attract over 1,000 delegates and feature discussions on healthcare delivery, reforms, and policy direction.
The NMA leadership also expressed appreciation to the Kano State Government and other stakeholders for their support, assuring that all necessary measures have been put in place to ensure a successful conference.
In his remarks, the Kano State Chairman of the NMA, Abdulrahman Ali, described the outreach as a huge success. He commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for his support and urged the state government to intensify efforts toward improving healthcare delivery across the state.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the outreach subcommittee, Muhammad Aminu Muhammad, and the Village Head of Gwarzo, Muhammad Halliru Gwarzo, applauded both the national body and Kano chapter of the NMA for the initiative. They called on the state and local governments to sustain such programmes to enhance access to healthcare services.
Some beneficiaries who spoke with journalists expressed appreciation to the NMA for the gesture, describing it as timely and impactful.
The NMA Annual General Conference remains the association’s highest decision-making platform, expected to shape policy direction and leadership priorities for Nigeria’s medical community.