The Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, says the Federal Government is fully committed to the protection and promotion of the rights of women and children.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mrs Buhari said this in Sokoto on Tuesday in a message to the celebration of the 2016 World Sickle Cell Day.
NAN also reports that the event had as its theme: “United We Stand Against Sickle Cell Disease”.
The wife of the president was represented by the state Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Hajiya Kulu Sifawa.
She said: “Nigerians should also endeavour to know their genotypes through testing.
“Sickle cell is a disease that is ravaging many families and the government is determined to reduce its prevalence.”
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Balarabe Kakale, disclosed that the State Government has set up sickle cell free counselling, screening and testing centres across the state.
He added: “The state government’s gesture is to provide quality management of sickle cell disease.”
The Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Health, Alhaji Umar Attahiru, restated the commitment of the state government to provide quality healthcare to all categories of people in the state.
Mrs Buhari launched a three-day free genotype screening, counselling and testing during the event. (NAN)