Agency
The Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, has appealed to Nigerians to increase investment in afforestation, saying it is critical towards ensuring a healthy environment for healthy living.
She made the call in Abuja on Wednesday, at an event organised to commemorate the 2024 World Family Doctors’ Day.
Mariya, who was represented by a Senior Special Assistant on Administration and Strategy, Dr Abdullahi Kauranmata, called on Nigerians to embrace afforestation against deforestation for its numerous benefits.
According to her, the health of the people is largely dependent on the status of the planet.
Speaking on the team, ‘Healthy Planet, Healthy People’, she said the timing was strategic, considering the importance of family doctors in any society.
Mariya added, “The contribution of family physicians to the healthcare system, especially in providing basic services is commendable.
“Most of the healthcare burden of Nigerian families is 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, and coordinate or manage primary patient care amongst other services.”
She called on family physicians to continue to support President Bola Tinubu to actualise his ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda and pledged the FCT Administration’s continued support to family physicians.
Earlier, President, Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria, Professor Musa Dankyau, said family physicians recognise the interconnection of environmental health and human health.
He also underscored the key role family doctors play in promoting environmental and human health.
Dankyau noted that Nigeria was currently witnessing the effects of environmental degradation on the health of the population.
He added, “The effects from air pollution and climate change to deforestation, and water contamination 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 and advocate for the health of our patients and families, as well as our planet,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that World Family Doctors Day is being celebrated annually, to recognise the vital role of family doctors in delivering personal, comprehensive, and continuous health care to patients.
It also serves as an opportunity to reaffirm the commitment of family doctors to the health of the planet and the patient.
(NAN)
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