By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, has called on Nigerians to adopt healthy living condition, as the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, marks the 2024 World Fami Doctors’ Day on Tuesday.
Mahmoud gave this advice as a Special Guest of Honour at the commemoration of the World Family Doctors’ Day held in Abuja.
She urged Nigerians to collectively invest more in afforestation and not deforestation of their environment, adding that the health of the people is largely dependent on the status of the planet.
The Minister who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant on Administration and Strategy, Dr. Abdullahi Isah Kauramata, noted that the theme for 2024 WFDD, “Healthy Planet, Healthy People” is strategic and timely.
While stressing the importance of family doctors in any society, Mahmoud said, “The contribution of family physicians to the healthcare system especially in providing basic services is commendable.
“Most of the healthcare burden of Nigerian families are handled by the family physicians who are trained to handle all manner of diseases.”
“A well trained family physician is expected to perform and assist in routine surgeries, provide emergency care, vaccinate patients to prevent and treat diseases, perform patient advocacy roles, coordinate or manage primary patient care among other services”.
The minister however called on the family physicians to continue to support the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to actualize the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration in the area of health, as she promised a continual support the family physicians.
On the part of the President, Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria, Prof. Musa Dankyau, he said family physicians recognized the interconnectedness of environmental health and human health, and the key role family doctors play in promoting both.
Professor Dankyau revealed ed that Nigeria is currently witnessing the effects of environmental degradation on the health of the populations from air pollution and climate change to deforestation, and water contamination.
“These effects are real, affecting our daily lives from Sokoto to Lagos, Jos to Enugu, Maiduguri to Port Harcourt.”
“However, as family physicians, we are uniquely positioned to address these challenges through advocacy for the good health of both our patients and families as well as our planet,” he stated.
Daybreak reports that the World Family Doctor’s was declared by the WHO in 2010, as an annual commemoration to recognize the vital role of Family Doctors in delivering personal, comprehensive, and continuous health care to patients.
And also as a day to reaffirm the commitment of family doctors to the health of the planet and patients.
