The Nigerian Army has extended its medical outreach programme to Ilemona, a community in Oyun Local Government, Kwara State. The programme, which was attended by over 1,000 residents, was part of the Army's civil-military cooperation initiative aimed at providing medical services to communities where its personnel operate. The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaib, represented by Major General Musa Awwal Etsu-Ndagi, said the programme was designed to combine healthcare delivery with efforts to strengthen trust and understanding between the military and host communities.
The medical outreach programme in Ilemona featured a range of medical interventions, including general consultations, dental and eye care, laboratory investigations, counselling, medication, and health education. The programme was the fourth in a series of medical outreaches conducted by the Nigerian Army, with several others expected to be conducted under the initiative. The Army's civil-military cooperation programme aims to improve the welfare of communities where its personnel operate.
The traditional ruler of Ilemona, Oba Nurudeen Yusuf, commended the Nigerian Army for extending its medical services to the community. He believed that the programme would strengthen the relationship between the military and the people, and encourage residents to come forward and receive medical care. The monarch noted that some residents might previously have remained silent about their ailments for lack of financial solution or the confidence to seek help.
The community leader, represented by Richard Agbola, described the outreach as a demonstration of the Army's growing engagement with communities beyond its traditional security responsibilities. He added that the improved relationship between the Army and the civilians could also encourage residents to share useful information with security personnel.
The secretary of Ilemona Decendants Progressive Union (IDPU), Pastor Folorunsho Banjo, described the programme as historic, saying that the Army's presence in the community was not just a display of military strength, but a profound demonstration of compassion, care, and commitment to the well-being of the civilian populace. He noted that the timing of the outreach could not be better, given the numerous challenges facing the community regarding access to quality healthcare.
A beneficiary of the programme, Mamud Yahaya, said that the programme had alleviated the plight of those who cannot afford basic medical demands. He appreciated the initiators of the programme and wished that it would continue on a quarterly basis to help the less privileged with health challenges. The Ilemona women leader, madam Aderibigbe Sikira, also appreciated the Federal Government and the Nigerian Army's foresight in initiating the programme.
The programme also featured a symbolic deworming exercise for children and the distribution of mosquito nets to selected women as part of measures aimed at promoting preventive healthcare and reducing the risk of malaria and other health challenges. The Nigerian Army's medical outreach programme in Ilemona is a demonstration of its commitment to the well-being of the civilian populace.
Key points
- The Nigerian Army's medical outreach programme in Ilemona provided medical services to over 1,000 residents.
- The programme was part of the Army's civil-military cooperation initiative aimed at strengthening trust and understanding between the military and host communities.
- The programme featured a range of medical interventions, including general consultations, dental and eye care, and health education.
