Edith CHUKU
No fewer than 300 residents of Oro-Obaziolu Community in Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, benefitted from the free medical outreach organised by the National Youth Service Corps NYSC.
The outreach, under it’s NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers HIRD, is part of scheme’s effort to boosts healthcare access in rural communities in the state.
The medical outreach which is the first for this year covered areas such as dental and eye care, general medical services, laboratory tests, doctor’s consultation, dispensation of drugs, and counseling.
Also, there were sensitization on malaria, diabetes, hypertension, and drug abuse.
The programme which was lauded by the beneficiaries and members of the community, was in partnership with a former commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters, Dr. Sam Soni Ejekwu.
Commending NYSC for the outreach, Ejekwu described it as a key initiative which he said is making monumental impact in the lives of ordinary people in communities across Nigeria.
He thanked the scheme for partnering with him to bring the outreach to those in the rural area who on their own cannot afford to pay for medical treatments in hospitals.
Declaring the first quarter HIRD outreach open, Ejekwu said, “I want to express my immense gratitude to the NYSC management and corps members for accepting to partner me to provide massive free medical outreach to the people of my community.
“I am very optimistic that this outreach will improve the lives and well-being of the people of my community and thereby increase their lifespan.”
In his address, the NYSC state coordinator, Mr. Moses Oleghe, who spoke on behalf of the Director General, Brig-Gen OO Nafiu, said the HIRD outreach is, “a key initiative of the scheme which has brought her increased visibility, recognition and relevance amongst Nigerians.
“I want to say a very big thank you to Dr. Sam Soni Ejekwu, we appreciate you greatly for the financial and logistics supports you gave towards the successful hosting of the outreach in Oro-Obaziolu, Nkpolu, Oroworukwo.
“Let me use this occasion to implore eminent citizens to partner the NYSC scheme in bringing quality free healthcare delivery services to the people of their communities through the veritable vehicle of the HIRD.”
