A recent medical outreach programme in Erin-Ile, a rural community in Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria, provided free healthcare services to over 500 residents. The initiative, conducted by the Nigerian Army, offered a range of medical interventions, including general consultations, dental and eye care, laboratory investigations, counselling, medication, and health education. This programme aimed to bring essential healthcare services to a community that may struggle to access these services due to financial constraints.
The medical outreach was part of the Nigerian Army's civil-military cooperation programmes, designed to improve the welfare of communities where its personnel operate. Representing the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, Major General Musa Awwal Etsu-Ndagi, emphasized that the exercise was intended to combine healthcare delivery with efforts to strengthen trust and understanding between the military and host communities. He highlighted that medical outreaches were a crucial aspect of the Nigerian Army's civil-military cooperation activities.
The programme featured not only medical treatment but also preventive healthcare measures. A symbolic deworming exercise for children and the distribution of mosquito nets to selected women were conducted to promote preventive healthcare and reduce the risk of malaria and other health challenges. The initiative was well-received by the community, with the Elerin of Erin-Ile, Oba Jimoh Adebowale Adesoye, commending the Nigerian Army for taking free healthcare services to the community.
The Elerin of Erin-Ile expressed appreciation to the Chief of Army Staff and officers and personnel involved in the exercise for choosing Erin-Ile as a beneficiary. He noted that bringing healthcare services closer to residents demonstrated the Army's commitment to the welfare of Nigerians beyond its traditional security responsibilities. The traditional ruler urged residents to take full advantage of the medical services and health advice offered during the exercise.
Beneficiaries of the programme praised the Nigerian Army for providing free medical attention and relieving them of the financial burden associated with consultation, diagnosis, and medication. Abass Akegbeyala, one of the beneficiaries, commended the Army for bringing the programme to Erin-Ile, saying residents were given an opportunity to receive treatment without worrying about the cost of healthcare.
Other beneficiaries, including Mrs. Oladejo Omolayo and Ademola Omo-Aweda, expressed satisfaction with the attention they received from the medical personnel. They praised the medical team for their care and professionalism and urged beneficiaries to adhere to the medical advice given to them. The outreach programme underscored the role of civil-military initiatives in extending basic healthcare services to underserved communities.
The Nigerian Army plans to conduct another exercise under the initiative, following the success of the Erin-Ile programme, which was the third in a series of medical outreaches. The programme created opportunities for closer interaction between military personnel and civilians, strengthening trust and understanding between the two.
Key points
- The Nigerian Army's free medical outreach programme provided essential healthcare services to over 500 residents in Erin-Ile and neighbouring communities in Kwara State.
- The initiative was part of the Nigerian Army's civil-military cooperation programmes, designed to improve the welfare of communities where its personnel operate.
- The programme featured not only medical treatment but also preventive healthcare measures, including a symbolic deworming exercise for children and the distribution of mosquito nets to selected women.
