By Becky John
Some Women in Nasarawa State on Friday called on the President-elect, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to sustain the SURE-P health programme because of its positive effects on the lives of Nigerians. The women told the newsmen in Keffi, Nasarawa State, that the SURE-P health programme improved primary healthcare service delivery to less privileged women and children in the society.
Mrs Litini Akuaden appealed to Buhari to retain and expand the scope of the health programme for the benefit of all Nigerians.
“We at the grassroots know how the SURE-P health programme had impacted positively on our lives and on the lives of other Nigerians positively; the programme had led to the evolution of quality healthcare delivery not only in our area, our state, but across the country.
“Because of the intervention of the SURE-P programme, pregnant women most especially in the rural areas enjoy health facilities free of charge which has reduced the burden of hospital bills on their husbands and other people in the country.
“We thank President Goodluck Jonathan for initiating the programme and other health policies, and I want to call on the President-elect to sustain the programme in order to reduce the plights of the women,’’ she said.
According to her, sustaining the programme would not only improve on the health status of Nigerians, but it would also reduce mortality rate and boost the socio-economic development of the country.
Luka commended Gov. Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa state for improving the standard of living of the citizens through his health policies in the state and called for its sustenance.
She called on Nigerians to support the incoming administration to enable it succeed in delivering dividends of democracy to the electorate.
On her part, Mrs Zainab Dogara, described the SURE-P health programme as an unusual intervention policy that should be retained and funded adequately by successive administrations in the country.
Dogara said: “A healthy nation is a wealthy nation. It has shown clearly that the SURE-P health intervention programme had yielding positive result in the country because there is a reduction in the child mortality and maternity rate in the society.
“In view of the achievements of the programme, I want to appeal to our new president to sustain the programme considering its benefits to Nigerians especially women.”
Mrs Cecelia Austine, a pregnant woman in Keffi who could not hide her feeling over the SURE-P health programme, said it had impacted positively on the lives of people, especially vulnerable women and children in the society.
She said: “We are enjoying free medical services as a result of the introduction of the programme by President Jonathan and I want to appeal to the incoming administration to sustain the programme in order to improve on our standard of living.’’
