OBUTE JAMES
Senator Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi, Chairman Senate Committee on National Population and Identity as well as Vice Chairman Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, represents Kaduna North Senatorial District (Zone A). After his success during the 2015 Federal Parliamentary Election on 28th March, 2015, Hunkuyi was inaugurated alongside his colleagues who won the same election on 9th June, 2015 as Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He is also a member of Senate Committee on Environment, Power, Trade & Investment, Petroleum Down Stream and Independent National Electoral Commission.
Though the major responsibility of Legislative Arm of Government is lawmaking and oversight, Senator Hunkuyi due to his passion and desire to touch the lives of the people positively particularly his constituents, carried out several projects in his senatorial zone. Hunkuyi carried out projects in various sector including health, education and electricity as well as youths empowerment and infrastructural development.
On health, there is hardly any local government area within the Kaduna North Senatorial District that has not felt the impact of his medical services which he renders through various bodies and organizations including Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, ABUTH, Association of Resident Doctors among others.
Some of the beneficiaries of Senator Hunkuyi’s Free Eye Surgery operation Programme
Initially, the team of doctors and other medical experts sponsored by Senator Hunkuyi moved from one local government area to another with the aim of providing medication and advice on the prevention and management of diabetes and hypertension. However, on November 29, 2016 Senator Hunkuyi flagged up two important medical programmes namely FREE Eye Surgery and General Surgery (appendicitis, hernia, hydrocele, fibroid, and lipoma). The event took place at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Chika, Zaria. 500 people with eye related ailments had FREE eye surgical operation at ABUT while other 500 people with ailments such as appendicitis, hernia, hydroceles, fibroid, lipoma also got FREE surgical operation.
There was a preliminary screening of patients within the 8 local government areas to ascertain those with eye related ailments and other ailments by the Hunkuyi sponsored medical experts. However, following Hunkuyi’s request of the management of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital with the proposal to host the eye care component of his medical outreach programme and the approval of the ABUTH, eye care services were delivered to the beneficiaries.
The Department of Ophthalmology, ABUTH screened 889 patients. About 100 patients screened by optometrists for refractive errors (Long sightedness, Myopia with or without Astigmatism) and presbyopia were given spectacles FREE of charge.
On medical treatment, about 100 of those screened were managed for external eye diseases, predominantly allergic conjunctivitis. The drugs were procured by Senator Hunkuyi and dispensed FREE of charge to the beneficiaries by the hospital.
On eye surgery, the patients with operable cataract had pre-operative evaluation including laboratory investigation at the Eye Centre of ABU Teaching Hospital. About 500 patients were operated by Ophthalmologists. However, those with uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes mellitus or other contraindications were not immediately operated as special arrangement was made for them.
On the General Medical Surgery, at Saidu Dange Railway Hospital Zaria; the exercise was carried out through the Association of Resident Doctors. About 100 doctors and other medical experts participated in this medical outreach. Patients operated include people with ailments such as appendicitis, hernia, hydroceles, fibroid, lipoma etc. The beneficiaries include children, adult men and women. Some of the people that were not operated due to uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes or other contraindications were given drugs.
On education, Senator Hunkuyi gives scholarship to students to study both within and outside Nigeria with the recent being 10 female students he sponsored to study medicine at University of Uganda.
Apart from those who got appointment with different government agencies though Hunkuyi, youths and women were given financial assistance to commence business of their own. He also purchased and distributed motorcycles and sewing machine to both youths and women as way of empowering them.
Nazangi Village, Lere-LG
Senator Hunkuyi purchased and installed electricity transformers in several wards in each of the local government areas that made up his senatorial District. This is aimed at improving electricity supply in his senatorial zone.
Unguwan Bawa about 15 Km Drainage
In order to improve on the provision of potable water supply, Hunkuyi built at least four Solar powered borehole with overhead tank in each local government area in his senatorial zone.