NYSC deploys 50 health workers for medical support in Gombe

The National Youth Service Corps has deployed 50 medical personnel to participate in the Nationwide Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers in Gombe State.

Dr. Ezisere Stephen, from Delta State, with Place of Primary Assignment at Gombe Specialist Hospital, said his team would fill the noticed shortfall and provide basic health services to poor rural dwellers.

The medical personnel who are also corps members are expected to provide health support to 1,000 indigent rural Dwellers in Kwadon, Yalmatu Deba Local Government in collaboration with the State Primary Health Care Development Agency.

“If you look behind you, you will see a number of corps members that are here. NYSC as a platform has given us the opportunity and privilege to reach out to the diverse social class.

“Most of the beneficiaries are indigent and can’t afford most of the things we are giving to them.

“We have diverse professionals here the doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists, nutritionists and a whole lot more.

“We have nothing less than 50 personnel on the ground, all from different backgrounds,” Stephen said.

The State Coordinator of NYSC, Mrs. Ada Imoni, stated that the intervention is geared towards bridging noticeable gaps in health services.

“This is our own way of National development by bringing the corps doctors, medical personnel here to give them free medical care.” 

These are places that our employed doctors and pharmacists will not want to go, this is where our corps personnel will go to meet the poorest of the poor.

Imoni also said that, complicated cases would be referred to secondary, and tertiary facilities to ensure the rural dwellers are well treated.

“We treat, we refer as well as give preventive measures talk to them, we have over a 1,000 indigent people who will benefit from the treatment, even the drugs are free.

“If it merits us giving them the drugs we will give them at no cost at all.

“Most of the treatment, we will check their blood pressure and check their eye status. We have opticians. We also have dentists here so we will check their teeth,” Imoni said.

The Director-General of NYSC, Brig. Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim said, the seven years old initiative was launched to deepen the impact of health services.

It is a platform for contributing towards promoting the wellbeing of indigent persons at the grassroots by granting them easier access to free and quality healthcare.

READ ALSO: ISN donates Medical Laboratory reagents to UNILAG

Martha M/Punch