President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has advised journalists to take proper care of their health needs while pursuing their reportorial duties.
Akpabio gave the advice on Tuesday when he paid a condolence visit on the Senate Press Corps (SPC) at the National Assembly complex, following the death of their member, Alhaji Tijani Adeyemi of Tribune Newspapers, who died last week.
Recall that another member of the Corps, Henry Umoru of Vanguard Newspaper, also recently lost his wife and mother.
Represented by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, the Senate President said journalists must take the popular maxim, “health is wealth”, very important and avoid relegating matters relating to their health to the background while they strive to inform, educate and entertain others.
He said: “Health, they say is wealth, and I urge you to take this very important. I understand the stress and struggles to break the news, but you must be conscious of your health needs at every point in time.
“To me, I would prefer to be celebrating you in good health rather than coming here to pay condolence. So, do not wait to be down before you seek medical attention but always endeavour to go for check-up to avoid any deterioration in your health condition,” he counselled.
He offered to collaborate with the Senate Press Corps to enhance the health needs that would give journalists access to routine medical checks and healthcare culture.
“I want a situation where we could have an understanding, where you can walk individually or as a group once in a while to have a facility for medical checks,” he proposed.
Responding on behalf of the Senate Press Corps, the Vice Chairman, Mr. Sanni Onogu of the The Nation newspapers, thanked the Senate President for his care and show of concern and for paying condolence visits on the families of Mr Umoru and late Adeyemi.
Onogu also appreciated Akpabio for providing the Corps with a new Press Centre and appealed to him to continue to assist them to do their job better.
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