Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Atiku Bagudu, has renewed his commitment and support to ensure cancer treatment be included into the National Health Insurance Scheme to reduce high cost of cancer treatment in Nigeria.

The Governor made this known during the advocacy campaign tagged `Walk Away Cancer’ organised by Medicaid Cancer Foundation on Saturday in Abuja.

Bagudu said he would support whatever is possible to reverse the rising cases of cancer in the country.

“What I also advocate is that we should be more active in setting up more treatment centres that will be competing with each other so that cost of cancer treatment will continue to come down,’’ he said.

He specifically appealed to doctors and young scientists to pick interest in treatment of cancer so that they push for more changes in life style to further prevent the deadly disease.

He noted that the advocacy programme was a significant annual event initiated by Dr. Zainab Bagudu, his wfe, through her foundation.

According to him, the foundation support many people from all works of life to be more aware of the cancer challenges and mobilise support for the people who unfortunately are living with the disease.

Earlier, Dr. Bagudu, also founder Medicaid Cancer Foundation, said the five kilometre walk was to increase cancer awareness and promote better chances of survival from the disease.

She added that the motive of the walk was to encourage people to imbibe the culture of exercise, stressing that “we want to get free from cancer, we want walk away from cancer’’.

Top government functionaries, wives of governors, personalities from the entertainment industries and international footballers participated in the five kilometer walk. (NAN

Political groups, women, youths in Yobe adopt Buhari, Lawan, Buni

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Political groups, women, youths and trade unions in Yobe North on Sunday unanimously resolved to support the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari and Sen. Ahmad Lawan, as well as the election of Alhaji Maimala Buni as Governor of the state in the 2019 general elections.

Sen. Ahmad Lawan (APC) is the current Senate Leader.

The decision was taken in Gashua at an enlarged meeting of political associations, women and youth organisations which cut across various political parties.

Alhaji Umar Kukuri, Chairman of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in the state, said the decision was taken in the interest of the state, after a careful analysis of the peculiarities of the area.

“Politicians from various political parties, women, youth groups and elders put their political differences aside and deliberated on the future of the state to arrive at the resolution to support the re-election of President Buhari and the election Maimala Buni as governor of the state in 2019,” Kukuri said.

He said politics had taken a new dimension in Yobe as “there is a growing trend of talented politicians coming together to consider the collective interest of the citizens and capability of candidates to decide on the political direction of the state.”

Kukuri, who is also the state chairman of the National Conscience Party (NCP), lauded the Buhari administration for restoring peace and security in the North-East and giving the people a new hope for life.

“Similarly, the outgoing administration of Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam has done so much in healthcare delivery, education, road network, prompt payment of salaries, gratuity and pension, we have seen Maimala with the capacity to sustain and improve on these achievements,” he said.

Alhaji Idi Jugujugu, former PDP state official, said “the emergence of Maimala Buni as APC governorship candidate was a divine intervention because, we as a people committed the emergence of our next governor to God through extensive prayers, so, Maimala is the choice of God for the state”.

Alhaji Sani El Katuzu, former National secretary of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), said the resolution by the numerous interest groups was to give Yobe good representation at both state and national levels.

Malam Hassan Shettima, a youth leader, said “the support provided by individuals, especially the masses, was quite overwhelming, adding that, “more groups are coming in daily in solidarity to Buhari and Maimala”.

“Everyone is making individual and collective contributions to ensure that Yobe is delivered to President Buhari and Maimala Buni,” Shettima said.

Hajiya Hadiza Bukar, a renown politician in Yobe North, also said women would mobilise their votes for President Buhari, Maimala Buni and Ahmed Lawan for a landslide victory during the 2019 general elections. (NAN)