By Muhammad Nasir in Sokoto
The Attahiru Bafarawa Foundation Giving Back Initiative on Friday inaugurated a medical outreach programme aimed at providing healthcare support to 46,000 beneficiaries across Sokoto State.
Speaking at the inauguration held at the Sokoto Zakkat and Endowment Agency (SOZEA) Hospital, Farfaru, the Chairman of the Initiative, Malam Lawal Maidoki, emphasised that the intervention is designed to provide essential medical assistance to patients in need.
Maidoki said the programme was designed to offer free medical services to 2,000 needy patients from each of the state’s 23 local government areas.
He explained that the outreach would cover surgical procedures, eye care, orthopedics, psychiatric treatment, and general clinical services, along with the settlement of medical bills.
“So far, over 60 patients have been sponsored for surgical operations at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital and other tertiary health facilities in the state.
“Additionally, several mentally challenged individuals have received treatment at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Kware, as part of our commitment to supporting public health,” he said.
Maidoki assured that patients requiring specialised medical attention would be referred to appropriate healthcare facilities for further treatment.
He also expressed gratitude to the founder of the initiative and urged the beneficiaries to make the most of the opportunity while praying for the founder, leaders, and the nation.
The Secretary of the Initiative, Alhaji Sagir Bafarawa, highlighted its broader focus areas, which include healthcare, education support, water supply, food distribution, and economic empowerment.
He emphasised that more social intervention programmes were in the pipeline to help mitigate the economic challenges faced by many citizens.
In his remarks, Alhaji Aliyu Hassan, the District Head of Arkilla in Wamakko LGA, lauded Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, the former Governor of the state, for his dedication to humanitarian efforts.
Hassan described the initiative as a remarkable act of compassion towards the less privileged and prayed for divine blessings upon the founder.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the former governor had on Sept. 18, 2024 Inaugurated the “Giving Back Initiative” with a donation of N1 billion.
Bafarawa said the donation was in appreciation of the trust and confidence the people of the state had for him by voting him into office to serve as their governor for eight years.
According to him, as he recognises the fact that he delivered dividends of democracy to the people while in office, he has continued to entertain some mixed feelings and needs to do more for the citizens. (NAN)