There was joy among residents of Nyaba-Ngo Umudim in Nnewi North local government area of Anambra state, as about 500 residents benefitted from free medical outreach organised by 302 Artillery Regiment of the Nigerian Army, Onitsha.
Tribune Online gathered that the outreach, organised at the Nyaba-Ngo Umudim Primary Health Center, on Thursday, covered treatments in medical areas like blood pressure, blood sugar, eye problems, and other health conditions.
In his remarks during the exercise, the Commander of the 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha, Col Yakubu Bwala, said the medical outreach was one of the community services lined up for the Exercise Etilogwu Udo I in the South-East.
According to him: “One of the traditional roles of the army is to organise medical outreaches, hold clean-up exercises and road maintenance within host communities; in order to touch the lives of the citizenry positively.
“Etilogwu Udo I is not an exercise meant to victimise anybody or group, but the one meant to curb crime and criminal activities so that citizens would live harmoniously. I will urge everyone to cooperate with the army to make the exercise a continued success.”
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He announced that in days to come, the army would also organise other community services, including clean up exercises in different parts of Anambra.
Also speaking, Col. Wilson Ejiga, a medical officer in charge of Onitsha Barracks, said the outreach was to demonstrate the value the Nigerian Army attach to human life.
According to him, medicines available include drugs for neglected tropical diseases, blood sugar and blood pressure drugs, glasses and drugs for eye health, malaria and worm drugs, syrups for children, and other drugs that would cover general health challenges; as well as free laboratory services and distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets.
An indigene of the area, Lotanna Maduebo, who said his 72-year-old uncle benefitted from the exercise, commended the army for the benevolence.
He said: “I brought my 72-year-old uncle who has an eye problem for treatment here. I am impressed at what I saw. It was a comprehensive treatment.
“Before now, I saw soldiers as fighters and killers; but today, I’m seeing soldiers from a different perspective. I am impressed.”
The traditional ruler of Umudim community, His Highness, Obi Benneth C. Okafor, commended Col. Yakubu Bwala and his medical team for providing the health needs of his people. He said the exercise would further cement the relationship between the Nigerian army and people of the South-East.
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