NASEME Flag-off Maiden Free Medical Outreach For Host Community
By Simeon OSAJIE
The Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, (NASEME), Auchi, Major General Oladele Arogundade said no fewer than 500 persons will benefit from its free healthcare services.
Major General Arogundade disclosed this during the flag-off of the Maiden Free Medical Outreach organized by NASEME for the people of Auchi the host community in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.
He said the free medical outreach is a testament to the Chief of Army Staff’s commitment to improve civil military relations and to give back to its host community.
According to him, the programme is aimed at promoting the well-being of indigent persons at the grassroots by granting them easier access to free and quality healthcare.
While stating that the exercise is for the benefit of the good people of Etsako West Local Government Area, the commandant emphasized that the Nigerian Army understand the importance of good health as it is necessary to improving productivity in all spheres of live.
The major general who underscored the importance of health to the well-being, said as physical security is important, health security is also important for the general well-being of the people.
“We have realised that in as much as physical security is important, which we do our best to provide, health security is equally important for all round wellbeing and productivity.
“A man that is not well cannot go to farm or market to do business,” he emphasized.
The Commandant disclosed that the local government and the management of Irrua Specialist Hospital have agreed to partner with the school for future exercises.
A medical consultant from Irrua Specialist Hospital, Dr. Sebastian Oiwoh in his brief health talk said that the outreach targeted indigent people in key areas such as general consultation, free eye examination, checking of high blood pressure, diabetes, malaria test as well as the distribution of free drugs.
“During the exercise medical volunteers will carry out diagnosis, treatment and medical procedures while drugs and other medical consumables will also be given to patients free of charge,” he said.
Dr. Oiwoh said that the school also mandated them to also focus on sensitizing the people toward handling threats posed by deadly viral diseases to complement government efforts in preventing diseases.
He urged communities to imbibe personal hygiene and environmental cleanliness as preventive measures against any outbreak.
The Chairman of Etsako West Local Government, Hon. Marvelous Zibiri thanked NASEME for the gesture and urged people in the community to come out en mass for the free medical service.
He disclosed that the local government would do everything humanly possible to partner with the school to ensure that the next one cover the entire communities in the local government.
Highpoints of the exercise was medical examination and distribution of free drugs. Thereafter the medical personnel from the school also went to the Auchi correctional center to attend to the inmates. The outreach was hitch-free and successful.
