At least 520 residents of Gabon Village in Emene, Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, have benefited from a free comprehensive medical outreach of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Ground Training Command (GTC), Enugu.

The comprehensive medical outreach included blood pressure check; weight check; eye check; free medicated glasses; instant laboratory test; free drugs and insecticide treated nets.

Other packages included free condom and family planning counseling as well as general health awareness talk.

Flagging-off the two-day medical outreach yesterday, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) of GTC, Enugu, AVM Sampson Akpasa, said that the Nigerian Air Force takes pride in fostering good relationship with people and its host communities.

Akpasa, who was represented by Air Commodore Abdullahi Kassimu, said that since the Nigerian Air Force would be setting up a GTC Command near the village in few days; the medical outreach was meant to enlighten them to know that Nigerian Air Force means well for them.

“The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has made it mandatory and possible that all Nigerian Air Force command, base and unit must relate well with their host communities.

“He has instrument us to foster good community relationships and ensure that our host communities or villages understand that we mean well for them.

“That Nigerian Air Force is here to support them and make their lives and communities or villages better,” he said.

Reacting, the Traditional Ruler of the Village, Igwe Okechukwu Johnson, thanked the Nigerian Air Force for bringing the medical outreach to his people.

Okechukwu commended the officers and airmen for the peaceful relationship between the village and the Nigerian Air Force all these years; adding: “It can only get better”.

One of the beneficiaries, Pa Chidi Nwanne, lauded the Nigerian Air Force for giving him a free eye glass, free insecticide treated net and some multi-vitamin drugs, which would act as supplement to his daily meal.

“I am full of gratitude for this favour and kindness the Nigerian Air Force has shown me as well as everybody in the village that came out for this medical outreach. God keep blessing them,” he said.

The new GTC Command had been mandated by Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) to see to all local ground training of the Nigerian Air Force personnel.

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