The Directorate of Women Mobilisation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has taken its compassionate humanitarian outreach to the General Hospital, Calabar, where it offered financial assistance, emotional support and encouragement to patients, particularly women and children.
The outreach, led by the Co-Director of the Directorate, Dr Betta Edu, was part of the activities ahead of Monday’s APC presidential campaign rally in Calabar. It followed a directive by the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, urging members of the Women Mobilisation Directorate to visit hospitals and extend compassion, encouragement and support to women and children.
During the visit, which covered the maternity, postnatal, accident and emergency, and children’s wards, Dr Edu said the initiative was designed to demonstrate that the Renewed Hope Agenda goes beyond political mobilisation to encompass compassion, solidarity and practical support for vulnerable Nigerians.
She explained that the visit provided an opportunity to identify with patients, encourage women awaiting medical procedures, and bring comfort to families going through difficult moments.
“We met patients with different experiences. Some had heartbreaking stories, while others needed funds for surgery, and some had already undergone surgery and were recuperating. We encouraged them, gave them hope, and prayed that those going in for surgery would come out successfully, happy and healthy,” she said in an interview with journalists who accompanied her to the hospital.
Dr Edu noted that the outreach also provided an opportunity to highlight ongoing interventions in the health sector under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, particularly free maternal healthcare in selected hospitals, subsidised dialysis services and free eye-care interventions including the distribution of corrective glasses through the Jigi Bola initiative.
She said the interventions were aimed at improving access to healthcare, reducing the financial burden on families, and ensuring that more Nigerian women could safely go through pregnancy and childbirth.
According to her, reducing maternal and infant mortality remains an important priority, adding that women deserve access to quality healthcare and the support necessary to deliver their babies safely.
Dr. Edu also expressed optimism about Cross River State’s participation in Monday’s presidential campaign rally, noting the importance of grassroots engagement and community mobilisation in the build-up to the event.
She added that the humanitarian outreach reflected the commitment of the Women Mobilisation Directorate to combine grassroots engagement with meaningful community support.
Responding, the Hospital Administrator of General Hospital, Calabar, Mrs Bassey Effiong, expressed appreciation to Dr Edu, the First Lady, and the Cross River State Government for their continued interventions in the health sector.
She described the visit as a demonstration of concern for patients, noting that the hospital had benefited from various interventions aimed at improving healthcare delivery.
Mrs Effiong also acknowledged ongoing efforts to strengthen the state’s healthcare workforce through the planned recruitment of additional doctors and nurses.
She commended the visitors for remembering patients and healthcare workers, expressing hope that the support and interventions have gone along way.
The hospital outreach forms part of the APC Presidential Campaign Council Women Mobilisation Directorate’s humanitarian and grassroots engagement activities in Cross River State ahead of the presidential campaign rally scheduled for Monday in Calabar.
Powered by the Directorate of Women Mobilisation, APC Presidential Campaign Council.
