The Nigerian Army has extended free medical outreach to communities in the northern district of Cross River State, southern Nigeria.
A press statement by the 13 Brigade Army Headquarters Public Relation Officer, Captain Grace Aluko indicated that the communities converged on a primary school in Utanga, Obanliku local government area.
Captain Aluko further indicated that the free medical outreach was part of an ongoing military exercise known as “Exercise Still Water”.
According to the release, the Chairman of Obanliku local government area, Mrs. Margaret Inde, who received the Commanding Officer and members of the medical team, expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Army “for this laudable initiative”, saying “this gesture is the first of its kind in Utanga community.”
The Chairman advised the people, especially those from Utanga community, to take advantage of the opportunity and receive the much needed care for their health.
Strengthening relationships
The statement also indicated that the Commanding Officer, Major Faruk Umar described the medical outreach as part of the Civil Military Cooperation, CIMIC, programmed with the ongoing Exercise Still Water.
Major Umar noted, “the aim was to strengthen the relationship between the military and the community; not to scare people away, but to build synergies and assist in information gathering on security treats around the community.”
One of the first to be attended to during the free medical outreach programme was the Paramount Ruler of Obanliku, Ambassador Amos Item, who in appreciation assured the Nigerian Army of the traditional rulers’ council support when necessary.
According to the statement, the people at the grassroots received health awareness talks before medical examination and based on their cases were given appropriate medicines.
Other services offered the communities were dental, eye checks and disbursements of free medicated eye glasses, malaria and typhoid test and treatment, HIV/AIDs counselling and testing, while referrals were given on serious cases.
Dominica Nwabufo
