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�.
