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Mohammed Abubakar
As part of its Humanitarian Outreach Programme, the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Yobe State Council, on Thursday distributed cash assistance to 40 vulnerable patients receiving treatment at the Women and Children Hospital (Family Support Hospital) and the Yobe State Specialist Hospital, Damaturu.
Twenty patients from each of the two health facilities benefited from the intervention, which was funded through contributions and savings made by members of the chapel.
Speaking to journalists during the disbursement of the funds, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Comrade Nabilu Balarabe, said the initiative was part of the chapel’s commitment to supporting vulnerable members of society beyond its traditional role of reporting events and holding government accountable.
He explained that the project was conceived by the current leadership of the chapel as a community development intervention aimed at bringing relief to patients facing difficult circumstances.
“This is a community development project initiated by this administration of the chapel. We decided from day one that we would not only concentrate on our primary responsibility of publicising government activities and holding government accountable. We also want to participate in intervention and support programmes that directly impact people’s lives,” he said.
Balarabe noted that the cash assistance was drawn from the chapel’s savings and targeted at vulnerable patients identified by the two hospitals to help them settle medical bills and meet other essential needs, including feeding.
According to him, journalists and other professional groups should not limit themselves to their statutory responsibilities alone but should also contribute to addressing social challenges within their communities.
He called on philanthropists, organizations and well-meaning individuals to emulate the gesture by supporting patients and other vulnerable groups.
“There are people whose lives are in very difficult conditions in these hospitals, and they need urgent assistance. The little support anyone can provide can put smiles on their faces and make a significant difference in their lives,” he said.
He added that humanitarian service does not require enormous wealth, stressing that even small contributions can have a meaningful impact on those in need.
Responding on behalf of the management of the Women and Children Hospital (Family Support Hospital), the Principal Medical Officer in charge of the facility, Dr. Babagana Alhaji Kolo, commended the journalists for the gesture, describing it as a commendable initiative that would inspire other organizations to support vulnerable patients.
He said the intervention was the first of its kind he had witnessed during his stay at the facility and noted that it reflected the journalists’ commitment to humanitarian service.
“Journalists are our voice to the public. What you have done today will send a strong message to other organizations and unions that there are people in need of assistance, especially considering the current economic situation in the country,” he said.
He stressed that such interventions provide relief to patients and their families while complementing government efforts in healthcare service delivery across the state.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) of the Yobe State Specialist Hospital, Damaturu, Dr. Muhammad Aji, commended the Correspondents’ Chapel for supporting vulnerable patients, describing the gesture as timely and impactful.
He said the hospital caters to a wide range of patients, many of whom struggle to afford medication, feeding and transportation costs. According to him, the cash assistance would help beneficiaries purchase prescribed drugs, meet their feeding needs and, in some cases, cover transportation expenses back to their communities after discharge.
Dr. Aji noted that the intervention would complement ongoing clinical care and ease some of the financial burdens faced by patients in health facilities across the state.
Two beneficiaries, Aisha Muhammad and Halima Ibrahim, expressed appreciation to the Correspondents’ Chapel for the support, saying the assistance would significantly improve their welfare by helping them settle medical bills and purchase food and medication.
