Journalists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Saturday received free medical consultations and health screenings as the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, partnered with Nizamiye Hospital to organise a medical outreach as part of activities marking the 2026 Press Week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The outreach, held in Abuja, was aimed at promoting the health and wellbeing of journalists, many of whom work under intense pressure and demanding conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking during the exercise, Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, emphasised the importance of prioritising personal health while carrying out professional duties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She noted that journalists often dedicate themselves to informing the public and serving society while neglecting their own wellbeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA healthy journalist is better equipped to serve society with excellence,\u201d Ike stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She commended Nizamiye Hospital for supporting journalists through the initiative, stressing that regular medical checks are vital for professionals operating in high-pressure environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Representing the hospital, Dr. Uzochukwu Chetachi said the outreach was designed to provide journalists with free medical consultations, examinations, and expert health advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to her, specialists in cardiology, ophthalmology, general practice, pharmacy, laboratory services, and nursing participated in the exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She added that participants diagnosed with serious health conditions during the screenings would be referred to appropriate specialists for further treatment and management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The outreach coincided with the opening of the NUJ FCT Council\u2019s 2026 Press Week themed, \u201c2027 Election: Defending Democracy in the Era of Disinformation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Addressing journalists at the opening ceremony, Ike urged media practitioners across the country to uphold ethical journalism and tackle the growing spread of fake news ahead of the 2027 general elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She warned that misinformation and propaganda pose serious threats to democracy and national stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe press has a sacred duty to protect truth, defend accountability, and preserve the integrity of our democratic process,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ike further called on journalists to remain professional, accurate, and balanced in their reportage as the country prepares for another electoral cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chairman of the 2026 Press Week, Mr. Obas Esiedesa, disclosed that the week-long programme would feature discussions and capacity-building sessions on media safety, journalism ethics, and public interest reporting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also appreciated partners and members of the planning committee for contributing to the success of the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Journalists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Saturday received free medical consultations and health<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1891,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1889","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n