DHQ conducts medical outreach in Enugu as part of interface with civil population

The Defense Headquarters (DHQ) has carried out a comprehensive free medical outreach in Amechi-Uno community, Enugu South local government area of Enugu State.

The outreach featured medical health and dietary talk, free sugar and blood pressure checks, free consultations, eye test, treatment and eye glasses, dental checks, free insecticide-treated nets to nursing mothers/pregnant women and free drugs among others.

In all about 317 members of the community benefited from the free medical outreach.

Making the symbolic presentation of two wheelchairs to two indigents physically challenged residents of the community, the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, said the defense headquarters would strengthen all its non-kinetic efforts.

Represented by a Director of Civil Military Relations, AVM Olushola Akinboyewa, the CDS said that the comprehensive medical outreach was part of a two-day Human Security and Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Workshop held at 82 Division of the Nigerian Army.

“We are not only winning all forms of insurgency and terrorism but we are winning the hearts of our people and letting them see the depth and sacrifice we can make for their security and sound health.

“The Nigerian military is committed to the health and general well-being of the people.

“The defence headquarters is here due to our core values of being in the forefront of humanitarian services and we are here to strength our relationship with our people especially the residents of Enugu State.

“The outreach will meet the immediate health needs and condition of the community people and will help them in the long run as they have learnt how to take care of themselves through medical health and dietary talk, ” he said.

The CDS noted that the health of Nigerians remained priceless as a healthy people and nation is a wealthy people and nation, adding that all the medical services, consumables, drugs and insecticide-treated nets are free; and free referral to 82 Division Hospital.

Speaking, Lt.-Col. Adeyemi Abolade, acting Commander, 82 Division Medical Services and Hospital, Enugu, said that the major sickness diagnosed among the residents of the community are upper respiratory tract infection and malaria.

Abolade, who is the medical team lead to the outreach, said that the community members had been sensitised on need to sleep under insecticide-treated nets, eat balance diet and take enough water each day.

Responding, the Traditional Ruler of Amechi-Uno community, Igwe Daniel Nnamani, thanked the CDS and defence headquarters for coming to give “wonderful free medical outreach to his subjects.”

Nnamani prayed for all the personnel of the Nigerian military for God’s protection, guidance and blessings, adding: “As you are winning ill-health among my people; you will win all security challenges facing the country.”

The Chairman of Enugu South LGA, Chief Caleb Ani, appreciated the CDS, defense headquarters and the 82 Division for strengthen security and health services in the council area.

Ani noted that it was just barely a month, the Nigerian Army through the 82 Division carried out a free medical outreach in another community in the council area, adding: “In deed, God has favoured my council area through the military”.

The chairman also presented an appreciative plaque to Maj.-Gen. Oluyemi Olatoye, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 82 Division of the Nigerian Army and Force Commander of Operation UDO KA.

One of the beneficiaries, Ma Chinelo Ogbodo, who got one of the wheelchairs, thanked the CDS and defense headquarters for the gesture, adding: “The wheelchair will definitely aid my movement and assist me to move around like others.”