By TYAV SAM TYAV, Makurdi –
No fewer than 10,000 vulnerable population in Benue State have benefitted from the free healthcare services carried out by a non governmental organization, 1019 Initiatives.
Team leader of the group Tersoo Ukechir in a chat with NATIONAL ACCORD during the official launch of the outreach in Adeyoungo, Tsambe, Vandeikya Local Government Area of the state, explained that the objective of the outreach was to enhance access of the vulnerable population to quality healthcare services given the poverty level of the people.
The 1019 Initiative according to the leader also aims at complementing President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and as well lay the foundation for the re-election bid of the president in 2027 through delivering of laudable dividends of democracy directly to people at the grassroots.
He noted that this initiative was aimed at delivering free, high-quality healthcare services to the poor of the poorest populations across the 23 LGAs of the state and Nigeria who do not have access to quality healthcare services and as well use the opportunity to mobilize grass root support for President Tinubu come 2027.
The importance of the programme, Ukechir revealed was to ensure that the people are healthy, and more productive, adding that a healthy population would ensure the training of their children and families can as well thrive economically.
“This programme will also help to reduce the number of families pushed into poverty due to health-related expenses.
Ukechir also informed that in addition to the free medical outreach, the 1019 Initiative has embarked on other impactful projects, including free transportation services, awarding scholarships and renovation of schools across the country to complement the Federal Government’s efforts.
He emphasized that “this is just the beginning of good things coming your way, we plan to reach every corner of Nigeria, touching lives in all the six geopolitical zones and across the three Senatorial Districts of the State, because our investigations have reviewed that many people are dying of preventable diseases even children are not spared and these are people who voted for the president and will vote again come 2027, so we are leaving no stone unturned.”
The kindred head of Mbatsembev, Tsambe district, Chief Ezekiel Junky, earlier in his remarks expressed gratitude for the outreach, describing it as a groundbreaking intervention in the community.
A beneficiary of the programme, Dooshima Aondowase, appreciated 1019 Initiative for the life saving programme and pointed out that accessing medical care here in the community was nearly impossible for us and appealed for its sustenance.
The free medical outreach as observed offered a wide range of services, including surgeries, malaria, typhoid fever and diagnostic tests for various ailments even as treatments for conditions such as catarrh and eye infections were also provided.
