In Abia, the National Youth Service Corps provides free medical outreach

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has offered free medical treatment to residents of Umuoha Community in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia.

Mr Denis Jingi, NYSC Coordinator in Abia, said at the commencement of the programme on Monday, that it was intended to meet the health needs of the rural dwellers.

He said the quarterly programme tagged, “Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD)” was initiated by NYSC in 2014.

Jingi said this year’s outreach with the theme: “Health is Wealth for Advancement,” was taking place simultaneously in all states of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory.

He explained that the medical team of corps members would reach out to as many as possible in the community with treatment and drugs during the one-week programme.

“We are here with our medical team to reach out to as many as possible in this community which do not have access to qualitative healthcare services.

“We are rendering free services in different areas of their health needs and in a situation where we cannot make any treatment here, we will refer them to specialist hospitals or other hospitals,” he said.

Mrs Eunice Nwaigwe, the Health Authority/Secretary in Isiala Ngwa North LGA, during a brief health talk, sensitised the people on the importance of paying attention to their health.

Nwaigwe commended the NYSC for bringing the initiative to the grassroots saying, “they have added much help to us, to urgument what we are doing as a government.”

Mr Onyebuchi Emelogu, a village head in Amaekpu-Umuoha and one of the beneficiaries, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that he was grateful to the NYSC for the medical outreach.

“The exercise afforded me the opportunity to know my health status and I was given free drugs too,” he said.