Ebonyi NUJ Embarks On Free Medical Outreach For Members

By Magnus Nwokpor, Abakaliki

Over one hundred Journalists in Ebonyi State, Southeast Nigeria, has benefited from free medical outreach, a programme packaged by the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

Ebonyi State chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Comrade Samson Nwafor explained at the event, that the medical outreach was included in the events marking the 2024 press week, because of the strategic importance of health checks in the lives of the journalists, given the busy nature of their job.

The programme was jointly organized by the council, with the Medical Women Association of Nigeria in the state, as part of the activities lined up for this year’s press week with the theme: “The Media Amidst Economic Uncertainty.”

Voice Of Nigeria reports that areas covered by the free medical outreach include: health talks, blood and sugar screening, hepatitis, oral care and treatment among others.

Over 30 journalists who have teeth-related problems were also treated by a team of Dentists, who also counseled them after the treatment.

According to him, “The media work is so tasking, such that practitioners hardly find time to take care of their health. That is why we have decided to include the free medical services, believing that it would go along way in keeping the journalists fit for their duties.

“This medical outreach was accommodated in this year’s press week of Ebonyi State council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, to ensure that our members get checks about their health because our duty is such that keeps us away 24 hours and often times, we don’t have the time to go to the hospital to submit ourselves, for certain check ups.

“This is why we said that this year we must make it a point of duty to accommodate medical checks on our members and to God be the glory, the Medical Women Association of Nigeria , Ebonyi State chapter led by Dr. Lillian Nwobashi our sister came through by collaborating with our council to ensure that this particular programme is a success,” Nwafor explained.

Immediate past Chairman of NUJ in the state, Comrade Tony Nwizi, described the medical outreach as timely in view of the pressure journalists encounter in their duties which according to him, affects their health.

He said, “It is good that journalists check their health status regularly because we work under immense. So it is necessary that we check our health from time to time.

“We have come today to check ourselves as part of the events to mark the 2024 NUJ press week of the state council and I want to say that it is most appropriate.”

Ebonyi State President of the Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Dr. Lilian Nwobashi, in a remark, urged journalists to always go for medical checks to save themselves from health issues.