As part of its Social Corporate Responsibility, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has rolled out free medical service for 15,000 persons at Irhirhi community in Oredo local government area.
The two-day medical programme was geared towards ameliorating the health burden of the community as well as enhances the cordial relationship by ensuring availability of quality medical care to host communities.
The free medical service for the community are consultation, distribution of treated mosquito nets, conduct of surgeries were necessary, laboratory investigations, prescription and dispensing of drugs and issuance of eye glasses among .
Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar, the Chief of Air Staff, who flagged off the programmme
said the medical outreach was designed to meet the general health needs of NAF host community in Edo
Abubakar, repreaented by the Air Officer Commanding, Tactical Air Command (TAC), Makurdi, AVM Charles Ohwo noted that the initiative was to provide immediate medical assistance to residents of Irhirhi community
According to him, the objective of the medical outreach is to help ameliorate the health burden of the community and to further enhance cordial relationship by ensuring availability of quality medical care to host communities.
“The efforts by NAF has endeared communities to freely and willingly provide useful intelligence that has helped NAF to record significant successes in all theatres of operations she is involved,” he said.
He urged the people of the benefitting community to avail themselves of the golden opportunity and participate in the 2-day free medical outreach programme.
Earlier, Group Captain Nasiru Saidu, Commander 107 Air Maritime Group, NAF, Benin said Irhirhi community which is one of the host communities to the 107 Air Maritime Group, has enjoyed a cordial relationship with NAF since the establishment of Air force Base in Oko.
Saidu, said free medical outreach programme have been one of the major interest of the Chief of Air Staff especially as it relates to social responsibility to host communities
In his remark, Irowa Osamwonyi , the Permanent Secretary, Edo State Ministry of Health, who represented the Commissioner for Health, described the free medical outreach as unique.
He added that it would addressed the health need of the people.
“The free outreach is from the basic healthcare to specialised healthcare service including Opthalmology and dental services.
“It will improve the relationship between the community and the airforce and make the people feel that the military is for the people,” he stated.
While commending the NAF for the medical outreach, he added that the state government was also partnering with them to ensuring that resident attend the outreach.
He however, called on other institutions in the state to emulate the gesture of NAF and help in the healthcare of the grassroots people.
The Odionwere of the community, Omoruyu Osemwunghe, who was one of the beneficiaries, commended the NAF for prioritising the health of the host community.
He, however, appealed to the government to rehabilitate the primary school in the area.
CHURCHILL OKORO, BENIN
