The management of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC in Nigeria has disclosed that more than four Million indigent Nigerians across the country have so far benefited from the Scheme’s Health Initiative For Rural Dwellers since the inception of the medical outreach in 2014.
NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed made the disclosure on Wednesday during the flag-off of the 2023 edition of the NYSC Health Initiative For Rural Dwellers (HIRD programme) held at Malaysia Garden Internally Displaced Persons, IDP community, after Apo Mechanic Area of Garki in Abuja the nation’s capital.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations of NYSC, Mr Eddy Megwa.
The Director General stated that from the number, more than two million patients have been treated by the Corps Medical personnel due to the Scheme’s strive to enhance quality healthcare delivery for Nigerians. Ahmed said that the choice of the IDPs was to compliment governments’ efforts at improving the lot of the underprivileged.
The Director General also said that NYSC has over the years collaborated with local and international health-based agencies in sustaining the HIRD programme.
He commanded the Federal Government for giving priority to the health sector through the repositioning of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
Earlier in her address, the NYSC Director of Community Development Service and Special Projects, Mrs Zainab Isah said in its bid to deepen the impact of healthcare services in the country, NYSC launched the HIRD programme in 2014 as a platform for promoting the well-being of indigent persons at the grassroot by granting them easy access to free and quality healthcare.
She called on public spirited individuals, philanthropists, government and non-governmental organizations to partner with the Scheme in it’s quest to ensure a healthy society.
In his vote of thanks, the Secretary of the Malaysia Garden IDP, Malam Makinta Ibrahim thanked the NYSC for coming to their aid with the medical outreach and prayed God to bless the Scheme.
At the end of the flag off, members of the IDP community were attended to by the Corps Medics both in the NYSC Mobile Clinic and under the canopies.
