BY OLADOTUN FADEYIYE
ONE Campaign in its quest to completely eradicate poverty and diseases in Africa and world at large has officially handed over the signed petitions of 187,240 Nigerian citizens calling for improved investment in the health sector in Nigeria to the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Bukola Saraki.
The acceptance of these 187,240 signed petitions by the Senate President was made possible today at “Town hall Meeting with the Senate President” an event put together by ONE Campaigns Nigeria in collaboration with Connected Development (CODE), The Well-Being Foundation Africa to commemorate World AIDS Day (WAD) in Abuja.
Senate President, while speaking at the event declared that National Assembly would not relent on her effort to ensure adequate healthcare service delivery are made available for the Nigerians at all levels.
”We know how critical the issue of healthcare delivery is to a country like Nigeria with highest population of black people in the world, we will definitely take action on these signed petitions” he alluded.
Edwin Ikhuoria, Country Coordinator ONE Campaign during his opening remarks said “Health issue is an all inclusive everywhere in the world, and as you are well aware, the World AIDS Day is an important day globally as it serves to echo the importance of investing in health systems and care to ensure that no one dies needlessly particularly from HIV/AIDS”.
He further stated the importance of the town hall meeting which is to provide a platform for Nigerian citizens at the grassroots, celebrities and partners from different parts of the country to interact with the Senate President, his colleagues and other policy makers on the state of the health sector and implications for meeting the 2020 AIDS target. And also to promote a focus on the urgent need for stronger health systems by showcasing the experiences of citizens and increase visibility for the urgent health challenges and funding gaps faced across the Nigerian Society.
Ikuhoria explained that if 15 percent of Nigerian Budget could be for the investment in the Health sector poverty would be reduced by 20 percent in the country.
Other notable celebrities who have being ONE Campaign Ambassadors at the event were Waje, Ali Nuhu, Desmond Elliot.