The treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) patients in the country should be made free, Nigeria’s First Lady and wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has advocated.
Speaking during a visit to the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council in Asaba on Tuesday, Senator Tinubu highlighted the impact of HIV/AIDS, especially among young people.
She encouraged traditional rulers to help spread awareness and advocate for health issues, including the elimination of female genital mutilation.
Tinubu said: “Additionally, there is an education-focused campaign called ‘Flow with Confidence’, which provides free sanitary pads to girls in rural areas to prevent school absences during menstruation.”
The First Lady said she had secured significant funding for tuberculosis treatment and emphasised her commitment to giving back to society through donations and advocacy.
Earlier in his remarks, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori said the country’s First Lady was in Delta to present 10,000 professional kits (Crocs and scrubs) to midwives in the South-South region, as part of the health programme of her Renewed Hope Initiative.
Oborevwori said: “This laudable programme has been implemented in the North-Central and North-West geo-political zones of the country.
“Today is the turn of the South-South, and the First Lady has chosen Delta State as the place to flag off the programme for the Niger Delta region.
“Also, tomorrow, Her Excellency will, in conjunction with the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development, flag off the Free-to-Shine initiative (South-South region), an enlightenment campaign to tackle the scourge of HIV/AIDS and other public health challenges confronting women of reproductive age.
ALSO READ: FEC approves N10.3bn for diabetes diagnostic kits, HIV/AIDS drugs, other medical supplies
“Known for her compassionate and humble nature, Her Excellency thought it wise to meet with our esteemed traditional rulers as part of her engagements with critical stakeholders in the state.”
In his remarks, Chairman of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council and Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, HRM Maj Gen Felix Mujakperuo, lauded the President’s wife for the visit.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for the ongoing construction of several road projects in the state, including the Benin-Asaba Expressway, Benin-Warri Expressway, and the construction of the Access Road to the Second Niger Bridge.
He said: “We are proud of you, as you are a virtuous woman who stood by your husband to navigate the political contours of this nation to emerge as President.
“I can assure you that we Deltans respect our in-laws. Just yesterday, one of us here, Asagba of Asaba, Obi Professor Epiphany Azinge, told us when he visited Mr President that Mr President described our governor as a progressive governor.
“That shows that Mr President is following closely the activities of our governor.
“In the same venue, the Honourable Minister for Works, His Excellency, Senator David Umahi, also described Governor Oborevwori as a hardworking governor. He said that Governor Oborevwori has turned the whole of Delta State into a huge construction site.
“Having done this, His Excellency, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, deserves a second term, because we do not want all these projects to be abandoned.
“I also want to thank you for your care for Nigerian women, especially the young ones. We have followed closely what you have been doing, and we are very proud of you.”
Governor Oborevwori and his wife, his Deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, and numerous Deltans had earlier received Mrs Tinubu and her delegation at the Asaba International Airport.
ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then