The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Ondo State Coordinator, Mrs. Kuburat Omowumi Bakare, has charged corps members in the state to be advocates of quality healthcare in all the nooks and crannies of the state.
Bakare made the charge during the official flag-off and launching of the ‘Free to Shine’ campaign – one of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, aimed at eliminating Mother-to-Child transmission of HIV/AIDS, Syphilis and Hepatitis.
Speaking at the event which was held at the International Culture and Events Centre (The Dome), Akure, the state capital, Bakare admonished members of the service corps to support the effort of the government in improving the well-being of women across the country.
“I want you all to draw strength from this initiative by championing quality healthcare in your various endeavours. I implore you to acknowledge the valuable impact of this initiative on reducing maternal mortality rate,” she stressed.
Earlier, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, had called on all stakeholders to key into the initiative while noting that global health bodies including the United Nations, were working assiduously towards eradicating certain diseases in Nigeria by 2030.
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She explained that the Renewed Hope Initiative, RHI, was designed to complement the efforts of the federal government in enhancing the well-being of Nigerians.
The First Lady stated that other regions had benefitted from the programme which aimed to provide critical support where needed and uplift communities.
Also, the wife of the governor of Ondo State and chief host, Mrs. Esther Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa, while commending the initiative of the wife of the president, appreciated her for singling the Sunshine State out as the state of choice to host the flag-off exercise in the South west region.
She praised the RHI for its focus on the distribution of professional kits to wives and midwives in the South-west zone.
The highpoint of the event was a short display of drama by corps members which mirrors the stigmatization of infected persons in the society and how to mitigate against its spread.
The event had in attendance the governor of Ondo State, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa; the deputy governor, Olayide Owolabi Adelami, PhD; the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti; the Chief of Staff to the governor, Prince Segun Omojuwa, and other top government functionaries.
Others were the wife of the vice president, Nana Shettima; wife of the Deputy Senate President, Mrs. Barau; wives of governors in the South West geo-political zone and well-meaning individuals from all walks of life.
