In order to bring succour to poor Nigerians, the federal government is set to flag off the Integrated Medical Outreach Programme (I-MOP) targeted at mothers and children between ages zero to two years.
A statement released to newsmen Friday by the Head, Public Relations, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Mohammad Ohitoto, indicated that the executive director/CEO of NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, said the “scheme will provide free primary health care services such as immunisation, treatment of minor ailments, health talks, counseling services, screening for non-communicable diseases and general medical consultations to Nigerians.”
He said the first round of the programme which “will be launched by President Muhammadu Buhari at Bwari area council, FCT, on Monday, March 16, 2020, will be implemented by the 36 states and FCT between March 23 and 27, 2020.”
“The outreach programme is particularly targeted at Nigerians living in rural, riverine and hard-to-reach communities who have not had consistent access to basic health services and often unreached by conventional primary healthcare services.
“Three rounds of the Integrated Medical Outreach Programme (I-MOP) will be implemented in 409 lowest performing LGAs and medical outreaches in each of the 109 Senatorial Districts across the 36 states and FCT between March and June 2020,” the statement read in part.
Shuaib also encouraged rural dwellers, ordinary citizens, particularly, mothers and caregivers to ensure that they secure the health and future of their children by seizing the opportunity provided by the programme to visit the selected primary health care centres nearest to them.
The statement indicated further that the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, “will be at the launch.”
Others included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora, the Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, and the Minister of State FCT, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu.
