The Anglican Church has unveiled plans to embark on a statewide health education campaign across Kaduna state and beyond to tackle poor health-seeking behaviour, self-medication and preventable deaths among Nigerians.
The Archbishop of the Province of Kaduna and Bishop of the Diocese of Kaduna, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Timothy Yahaya, stated this at the maiden Health Summit organised by the Diocese of Kaduna Monday, saying the church would leverage its network of congregations and communities to educate people on healthy living and disease prevention.
Yahaya said the initiative was informed by the growing burden of preventable illnesses, low life expectancy and widespread ignorance about basic healthcare practices.
“When this gathering is over, we will go into the communities, villages and among our people to educate them on how to live better and live longer.
“Our responsibility is not limited to our jurisdiction. Wherever we have the opportunity to help people improve their health and live longer, we will go there and do our best,” he said.
He said the campaign would focus on promoting health awareness, preventive healthcare and responsible health-seeking behaviour, adding that education remains one of the most effective tools for reducing avoidable illnesses.
“Education is power. Information is power. Many people are not properly informed about health. Some are taking prescriptions from social media, while others abuse medications that were prescribed for them. These are dangerous practices that we must address,” he said.