By CHARLES IWUOHA

No fewer than 1,502 residents of Ogbowa-Abakpa community within Enugu metropolis have benefited from the Comprehensive Medical Outreach of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

The medical outreach covered: free health education, free consultation/medication, free insecticide treated nets, free dental and eye check, free laboratory tests and deworming of children.

Flagging off the medical outreach on Wednesday, AVM Usman Abdullahi, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Ground Training Command of NAF, Enugu, said that the comprehensive medicare was part of programmes meant for the commemoration of the 60^th Anniversary of NAF.

Abdullahi, represented by the Chief of Staff, Ground Training Command, Air Commodore Jerry Ekwuribe, noted that it was designed to meet the medical needs of the community that is one of the host communities of NAF.

According to him, I am delighted to be in your midst today to celebrate the 60^th Anniversary of the Nigerian Air Force, established in 1964 by an Act of the Nigerian Parliament to preserve Nigeria’s territorial integrity through the employment and projection of air power.

“I am proud to say that the Airforce has in the years since its establishment proved its mettle both locally and internationally. I congratulate the Chief of the Air Staff and the entire Air Force family on the occasion of the 60^th Anniversary of the Nigerian Air Force.

“Today’s medical outreach, which is part of the activities lined up for the NAF at 60 celebrations throughout the country, is aimed at ameliorating the hardship currently being experienced by the people in accessing healthcare.

“The medical outreach, which is an initiative of the Chief of the Air Staff is an annual event that is conducted to deepen the existing civil military relations between the Nigerian Air Force and the host communities.

“It is to further foster good working relationship between the personnel of the Nigerian Air Force and the residents of Ugbowa community in Abakpa Nike of Enugu State and its environ,” he said.

The AOC said that the medicare would also cover distribution of insecticide treated nets for pregnant women, nursing mothers and elderly for the prevention of malaria, adding: “Laboratory tests will be carried out for selected beneficiaries following doctors’ assessment.”

“All complicated medical or surgical cases will be referred appropriately after the outreach. I, therefore, will enjoin you to make yourselves and families available to benefit maximally from this medical outreach,” he said.

On the medical outreach, Squadron Leader Nelson Akinlose, Command Medical Officer, said that the turnout had been impressive and overwhelming even as the Command came with a full complement of medical professionals dutifully attending to the residents.

Akinlose, who is also Commanding Officer 553 Base Services Group Medical Centre, Enugu, said: “The prevalent ailment diagnosed among the residents included upper respiratory tract infection, hypertension, high-blood sugar, fever suspected to be malaria and skin rashes in children.

“On health education and awareness, we have advised that the residents keep their homes and environment clean; eat healthy foods with lots of fruits and vegetables; have at least six hours sleep daily and engage in physical exercise daily.”

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Roseline Nwosu, appreciated NAF for the free insecticide treated net and malaria drugs given to her and her daughter.

“We will continue to pray for the success and preservation of all NAF officers and men for them to keep doing their good job,” Nwosu said.

Another beneficiary, Pa Chimezie Nweke, said that NAF had given him large quantities of hypertension and blood sugar control drugs, adding: “I am grateful to NAF for taking care of my health burden, which runs into thousands of naira monthly.”

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