Akpan Umoh, Uyo
As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Wednesday flagged off free medical outreach at Ubon Akwa community in Obot Akara Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.
Our correspondent reports that men, women, and children within and in the adjoining communities turned out in a great number to receive free medical treatment tagged; “Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers.”
The State Coordinator of NYSC, Mrs Chinyere Ekwe, in her remarks before the flagged off said the project was designed to take care of the health challenges of the rural populace.
Ekwe said the scheme harnessed medical personnel among the corps members and also sought support from good-spirited individuals and organisations, which led to the realisation of the medical outreach.
“The effort is aimed at administering the medicals on the villagers based on their ailments and within the context of the available drugs and the capability of the medical personnel.
“We shall focus on the Optometry services, Blood Pressure check, Blood glucose check, RDT for malaria, counselling and referrals,” Ekwe said.
Ekwe said the gesture has given hope to the less-privileged in the community and the response from the people is tremendously positive.
She assured that the project would be replicated across all the local government areas of the state in due course.
She said that the critical roles played by NYSC in all sectors of human endeavours across the country could not be undermined particularly, in touching lives.
The state coordinator urged stakeholders across the country and governments to always give support for the scheme to do more for the community people.
In her remarks, the Chairman of Obot Akara LGA, Mrs Agnes Udoewenwen commended NYSC for the free medical outreach conducted in the community.
The chairman, who was represented by the Supervisor for Health, Mr Charles Esu, said that the project would address numerous health challenges facing the people in the community.
Speaking to our Correspondent, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs Elizabeth Isaiah, thanked NYSC for coming to the aid of the people particularly, at these critical times.
She said most of the people in the community were dying from one sickness to the other because of a lack of money to seek proper medical attention in the hospital.
In his reaction, another beneficiary, Mr Itoro Okon, said he has been tested and given medications that would help bring down his ailment.