- Outreach uncovers prevalence of High blood pressure, Sugar level
- As CDS hails programme’s initiative
BY EDMOND ODOK – It was all thrills and excitement as the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council partnered with Nizamiye Hospital to provide free medical check-ups for over 300 Abuja-based journalists
Indeed, Saturday, June 28, 2025 would be etched in the hearts of many journalists as they turned out in their numbers for the medical outreach that took place at the NUJ FCT Secretariat in Utako district, Abuja.
But concern arising from the outreach is that high blood pressure and sugar level are prevalent health issues among the media practitioners in the nation’s capital that must be tackled.
Accordingly, the event’s Special Guest, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, commended the FCT Council of NUJ and Nizamiye Hospital for their thoughtful move of caring for journalists’ well-being.
The CDS, represented by the Director of Medical Services, Nigerian Navy, Surgeon Commodore Momoh Jimoh Salihu, said, “It is actually a laudable event and I want to say kudos to the NUJ FCT and the Nizamiye Hospital for organising and conducting this medical outreach for journalists.
“This effort will improve the well-being and productivity of journalists in Abuja and help them stay focused on their job.”
In her remarks, Chairman of the NUJ FCT, Comrade Grace Ike, appreciated Nizamiye Hospital for engaging their team of specialists, including a general surgeon, internals, cardiologist, nephrologist, ophthalmologist and general practitioners, for the programme.
According to her, “This outreach is part of NUJ FCT’s wider plan to raise health awareness and give free medical support to journalists”, adding that the check-ups results would help guide the Council’s efforts at getting health insurance for members.
Assuredly, she said; “We will always make sure our members are healthy. They go out to the field every time and most times they barely have time to go for medical check ups.
“The NUJ FCT Council decided to take it as a point of duty to make sure that we have our bodies checked. It is our desire to make sure that we get health insurance for our members. The outcome of today’s outreach will better guide us.”
“I am happy that members turned out en masse for this outreach. I am happy that the team of medical doctors from Nizamiye hospital are here to check our members. This will not be the last. We will continue to do this. Thank you to Nizamiye Hospital for taking up this challenge.”
Further promising the programme would hold periodically, the Council Chairman said the Union remains committed to looking after its members, adding; “This initiative demonstrates the union’s commitment to supporting journalists’ well-being”.
Also speaking at the event, the hospital’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Mohammed Abubakar, confirmed the hospital’s support for other similar health programmes in the FCT, saying; “Our aim was to conduct medical screening for journalists in the FCT. The aim of the medical outreach is to prevent diseases. We are known to give humanitarian aids and this for us is a partnership with the NUJ FCT
“The major disease that is prevalent so far is High Blood pressure and sugar level and for eye issues we will go back to the hospital and revert to members who have serious medical eye issues for surgery where necessary”.
On his part, the Deputy Medical Director of Nizamiye Hospital, Dr Nurullo Sadokov said the medical outreach was part of the hospital’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), adding; “I hope this screening will help journalists to identify and prevent diseases and sicknesses.
“From what we have seen so far, there are journalists with blood pressure and blood sugar problems. Our surgeon here has identified some journalists with hernia and haemorrhage.”
“We are making plans for those patients to come to our hospital for proper treatment and management. We came here for a general screening. They may have a problem or not. After identifying the problems and diseases, we will then take another step, which is at the hospital level.
“Some patients may end at the diagnostic level while others may need further attention. At the end of the day, we will make a list and make recommendations to the NUJ”.
