ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi-
The Nigerian Air Force, as part of its one week activities marking the 57th anniversary of its establishment has offered free medical outreach to over 2,000 poor and less privilege in Ganjuwa LGA of Bauchi state.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the outreach which took place at the Central Primary School Kafin Madaki, the Air Commanding Officer, Special Operations Command, Bauchi, Air Vice Marshal Charles Ohwo, said the gesture is geared towards enhancing cordial coexistence and provision of access to health care delivery and other humanitarian services to its host communities.
Air Vice Marshal Ohwo, pointed out that it is in line with NAF’s culture to give back to the community.
He expressed optimism that the gesture of NAF would go a long way in helping to improve the people’s quality of life, health and reduce mortality rates from preventable diseases in the communities.
He said: “This outreach is intended to provide quality and comprehensive medical care for over 2,000 persons. In the course of this one-day outreach, various medical conditions would be diagnosed and treated, while those with complex cases would be referred to the 261 Nigerian Air Force Reference Hospital, Bauchi for further evaluation and expert care.
“There would also be health education, Counselling, Dental Screening, free medicated glasses, screening for Hypertension, basic laboratory screening and free drugs amongst other services.”
He re-affirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Air Force to periodically reach out to host communities to provide much needed preventive health services as part of its civil-military relations and social responsibility.
In his speech, the Commissioner of Health, Bauchi state, Dr. Aliyu Maigoro who was the Guest of Honour, said that the outreach is a proof the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to caring for members of their host communities, in addition to its role of securing the territorial integrity of the country and maintaining peace and stability within their area of responsibility.
Dr. Maigoro said that since the establishment of the Special Command in 2016, it has contributed immensely to ensuring the socioeconomic development of the state, through the provision of prompt response to insecurity issues, providing quality education that has taken over 500 previously disadvantaged children out of illiteracy and world-class but extremely cheap healthcare.
The Village Head of Kafin Madaki, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu, in an interview with journalists said he was very overwhelmed by the free medical outreach to his people.
He said: “I am the most happy person because our village was chosen by the Nigerian Air Force for this free medical outreach to the less privilege here. On behalf of my people, we are very grateful to them for doing this outreach.
“Our people go the Nigerian Air Force Reference Hospital instead of the government hospitals not because if anything but because we get good quality health care services which are very affordable there.”
He called on Nigerians to partner with security agencies in the country by exposing criminals in their domains.
One of the beneficiaries, Shehu Dan-Rimi, 65, who said he had been suffering from eye problem for over seven years, was full of joy after his eyes were checked and drugs were given to him.