On Wednesday, the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Barnawa-Kaduna, announced plans to plant 1,000 trees.

The hospital’s medical director, Aishatu Yusha’u-Armiya’u, said the tree-planting campaign was in response to the challenges posed by climate change.

She said, “Because of the challenges of climate change, there is the urgent need for the hospital to reposition itself before they get out of hand. The management of the hospital is setting up a ‘Green Belt Fund’ for the health facility.”

She said the tree-planting exercise was the first of its kind.

Ms Yusha’u-Armiya’u said, “We plan to plant 1000 trees in the hospital. Initially, we plan to plant 1,000 trees, but we are starting with 300 and will continue subsequently.”

She added that staff and a hospital friend donated 200 trees, including mangoes, citrus, cashews, and guavas.

Ms Yusha’u-Armiya’u stressed that trees’ importance in preventing erosion and beautifying the environment, among other things, cannot be overemphasised.

“The tree-planting is a community programme and I am urging each of the residents of Barnawa to plant at least a tree,” she noted.

The Kaduna House of Assembly speaker, Yusuf Liman, commended the hospital’s commitment to ensuring that the state was saved from all forms of environmental hazards.

(NAN)