NYSC launches health initiative for Abia state rural communities

On Apr 21, 2023

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Thursday launched its 2023 first-quarter Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD) in Abia state.

The State Coordinator, NYSC, Mrs Ufuoma Dick-Iruenabere, while speaking at the inauguration in Aba, urged the residents to avail themselves the opportunity and access free healthcare services provided by the scheme.

Also, she added that the scheme was fully prepared to use skilled human resources at its disposal to improve the quality of life of the people.

Dick-Iruenabere said that HIRD had a core responsibility of mobilising corps medical personnel to provide health interventions such as diagnosis, treatment, referral and preventive mechanisms.

She expressed appreciation to the state government and the sponsors of the programme for their unflinching support towards the health needs of the people.

“I, therefore, appeal to all well-meaning Nigerians to support this initiative of NYSC geared toward imparting positively on the health needs of our rural dwellers,” she said.

The NYSC Zonal Inspector in Aba North, Mr Chinedu Ubagu, also expressed happiness over the success of the exercise, noting that the aged and the young were attended to.

Ubagu further said that the corps used the traditional ruler of the community, radio announcement and town crier to inform the people which led to the large turnout.

“Yes, we had a rally, moved round the community to sensitise the people about the benefits of the exercise and I’m glad they responded very well,” he said.

Also, the Chairman of Aba North Local Government, Mr Stanley Ogbonna, thanked NYSC for choosing the area for the exercise.

Ogbonna, represented by his Deputy, Mr Isidore Egejuru, commended the initiative, and urged NYSC to continue with the programme.

“We are happy about this and that is why we supported it with logistics and others things.

“It is our desire that this programme is holding once in a while in our community so that people will benefit and feel the impact of governance,” he said.

According to reports, the medical outreach was held at Eziama High School, Aba, Abia North, which witnessed a large turnout of residents of the community.

Also, the medical outreach featured health talk, free medical consultation, laboratory test, drugs and treatments.

Wumi/ NAN