Emir Tasks FG On Health

The Emir of Azara in Nasarawa State, Dr Kabiru Ibrahim, has called on the Federal Government to focus on the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG 1) to reduce the various health challenges in the country.

Ibrahim told newsmen in Abuja that the government often allocated resources to ensure that infectious diseases were tackled, but failed to address the issue of poverty.

He said the root cause of most diseases was poverty and urged the government to make life meaningful for the people by improving their living and health standards.

The eight MDGs  entail the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, attainment of universal primary education, promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women, reduction of child mortality and improved maternal health.

Others are designed to combat HIV and AIDS as well as malaria and other diseases, ensure environmental sustainability and develop a global partnership for development.

Our correspondent reports that MDG 1 involves the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger.

Ibrahim said : “To me, if the government fails to focus on MDG 1, if it fails to focus on how to reduce poverty and illiteracy level in this country, it will be spending so much money putting a lot of strategy in place without achieving anything.

“Our maternal and infant mortality rates are still very high and this is because we are dealing with more serious diseases that have to do with poverty and illiteracy.”

The royal father urged the government to demonstrate strong political will that would bring positive change to the country, adding that if poverty was not addressed the country would not make any headway.

“The government must empower people, our women must be empowered because women contribute more to the development of the society. If you have healthy women, you have a healthy generation.”